In the end Brazil's dependence on Neymar was greater than Argentina's on Lionel Messi. Argentina's 12th goal of the tournament was the first and the only one not to involve Messi -- and it was enough to bring Messi the first senior title of his international career, and Argentina's first since 1993.
The victory was the fruit of Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni's willingness to change a winning team -- or at least one which had come through a semifinal after a penalty shoot out. He changed five of the side -- half of the outfield contingent -- from the line up of Tuesday's game against Colombia.