What Low told super sub Gotze moments before he went on... 'Go and show the world you're better than Messi!'

Germany boss Joachim Low told Mario Gotze to prove he is better than Lionel Messi minutes before the Bayern Munich attacker scored the winning goal in the World Cup final.

And Low insists Gotze’s stunning strike seven minutes from the end showed exactly that.

He said: 'I told Gotze at the break in half time at extra time: ‘show you are better than Messi, show you are a better player than him and can win a World Cup”.

Belief: Joachim Low speaking to Mario Gotze as he went on as a sub in the final before scoring the winner

Match-winner: Mario Gotze fires past Sergio Romero late in extra-time to win the World Cup

Can't believe it! Thomas Muller goes to leap on a shell-shocked Gotze after firing the Germans ahead

Mob rule: Gotze (No 19) is surrounded by his ecstatic team-mates after scoring the game's only goal

Congratulations: Low and Gotze embrace after the final whistle as Germany are crowned champions

'He did that. Gotze is a miracle boy. He can decide matches, he can do anything.'

Low’s team will celebrate with the country’s supporters after travelling back from Brazil on Sunday night and will be in Berlin for a victory parade on Monday.

Germany, who destroyed hosts Brazil 7-1 in the semi-final, had maintained the start of the tournament that their target was to win the World Cup and that is exactly what they did.

The 54-year-old explained how the triumph in Rio de Janeiro was the culmination of a decade's work.

‘We have been together for 55 days, we have started this project ten years ago and this is the result of many years of work,' he explained.