Lionel Messi won the Golden Ball for being the most outstanding player at the 2014 World Cup, but getting a flashy new trophy meant nothing to him following Argentina's loss in the final.

It's hard to find a sadder person in the world right now. He played his heart out, was the driving force behind Argentina's run and in the end it just wasn't enough. Messi had one final chance to prove to be the hero and he got to watch his World Cup dreams fly away, over the crossbar and out of reach.

The whole trophy celebration felt a touch cruel while he tried to recover from the loss, but the ceremony couldn't be held for emotions.

Hopefully the disappointment of his team's loss to Germany will melt away in time and Messi can appreciate just how fantastic he was over the last month. It was a pleasure to watch.

Update: Messi described his disappointment and it's expected given his reaction.