Lionel Messi believed Argentina wasted several strong opportunities to score in their 1-0 defeat in the World Cup Final to Germany.

"We haven't been in the semifinals for many years and the fact that we played the final and the way we played it it's something to be proud of," Messi said after the game. 

"But we deserved more and that's why we are sad. The strikers missed the chances we had. It's a bad feeling for all of us because we couldn't win the cup and take it to our people. 

"It's painful to lose it by so little. We were very close to a big change for this national team but we couldn't finish it."

Messi was awarded the Golden Ball as the best player of the tournament, but he took no solace in receiving it.

"I just wanted to win the World Cup. This award means nothing to me now."