In pictures: World Cup agony and ecstasy

The 22-year-old German starlet Mario Götze volleyed home the winner in the 113th minute to secure the trophy for his country in the Maracanã stadium in Brazil

The late winner was almost too much to take for some German fans watching at a fan zone in Majorca

On the pitch, the final whistle brought more emotional scenes - captain Philipp Lahm embraced a tearful Bastian Schweinsteiger and striker Thomas Müller

The result was celebrated by joyous German fans at Copacabana beach's fan fest in Rio de Janeiro

But there was no consoling Argentina supporters in Buenos Aires who were left dejected by Götze's late winner

It was the first time a reunified Germany had won the tournament - almost a quarter of a century after West Germany beat Argentina in the 1990 final

While 6,000 miles away in Berlin, the result sent fans near the Brandenburg Gate into ecstasy

Later in the Argentine capital riot police arrested at least 40 people, according to local reports, after tens of thousands gathered in an otherwise good-natured Plaza San Martin