Who On Earth Is Mario Goetze, Germany’s World Cup Final Hero

HE’S the baby-faced assassin who shattered Argentina’s World Cup dream. But what do you know about Germany’s little-known national hero, Mario Goetze?
In the 113th minute of this morning’s World Cup final, Goetze calmly slotted home the winner for a 1-0 victory in extra time — sending a nation wild.
Is he just a kid?
Not quite. Goetze is 22 but looks 12.
Did he even start today’s match?
No, the attacking midfielder didn’t come on until the 88th minute, replacing star striker Miroslav Klose — the greatest World Cup scorer of all time.
Goetze’s winner came in the 113th minute and he described the historic moment as “an unbelievable feeling”.
“I don’t know how to describe it. You just score that goal and you don’t really know what’s happening after that.
“It’ll be a party with the whole team and the country. It’s a dream come true to win the World Cup, especially in Brazil.”
Wait! That’s not his girlfriend, is it?
Indeed it is.
The little bugger (1.75m tall, 63kg) is dating model and singer Ann-Kathrin Vida Brommel.
He was sure to thank her after the win.
“It hasn’t been a simple year for me or a simple tournament. I owe a lot to my family and my girlfriend, who always believed in me.”
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Why has he had a tough year?
Goetze struggled to hold down a first team place in his maiden campaign at German giant Bayern Munich.
He’s the second most expensive player ever. That can’t be right?
Believe it or not, Goetze joined Bayern last year for $53 million.
The only other German who has ever demanded a higher fee is his national team teammate, Mesut Ozil, who joined Arsenal for a club record $77.5 million.
Where has he come from?
Goetze joined German club Borussia Dortmund as an eight-year-old and stayed with the team right through his teens, making his Bundesliga debut five years ago. He was a key member of the Dortmund team that won the league in 2010-11 before leaving his boyhood club to join Bayern Munich winning the league again this year.
How long has he been a part of the national team?
A long while, actually. He made his debut way back in November 2010, at 18 years of age. Goetze has 35 caps for Germany and 11 goals — none more important than today’s.
What else had he done this World Cup?
Not much at all. He was left on the bench for the 7-1 drubbing of Brazil in the semi-finals.
He was quiet in the 4-0 opening thumping of Portugal, then scored Germany’s opening goal with his knee having mistimed his header in the 2-2 draw against Ghana.
Joachim Loew brought him off the bench late in the 1-0 win over the US, and he played just the first half of the 2-1 extra time win over Algeria in the last 16.
He only came on for the last seven minutes of the 1-0 quarter-final victory over France but will be now be remembered for deciding the final on his return to Rio.