Recently, in an interview with FIFA, German star Mario Götze reflected on the goal that cemented his name in history during the 2014 FIFA World Cup final, recounting what transpired in that memorable match.

FIFA: Do you still remember how it felt to face Messi in the final?

Götze: I had faced him before when he was at Barcelona, but at the international level—competing against Argentina and Messi in a major final—that feeling was truly incredible.

That was the first time I truly understood why he is so special.

He appears to be simply strolling across the pitch most of the time, but the moment he receives the ball, he's nearly impossible to stop.

His game intelligence is outstanding; he reads how the tempo shifts and understands how space unfolds on the field.

He's truly remarkable, which is why he continues playing and scoring to this day. I think he's simply that great.

FIFA: What advice would you give to players participating in a FIFA World Cup final in the future?

Götze: (Laughs) I'd tell them: "Score the winning goal in the FIFA World Cup final at 36, then retire!" (Laughs)

But seriously, I'd offer two thoughts.

First, it was ultimately just one goal. I only played for 30 minutes and scored—that's it. I've executed similar plays in training or matches countless times before; I just didn't know how significant that particular moment would become.

Second, your own perspective matters more than the narrative others construct around it.

Over the years, I've reminded myself: "This is just a goal—a moment I was fortunate to experience." You must form your own understanding of it, because otherwise others will define you into someone you're not. That's something I had to learn in the years following that goal.

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