2014 World Cup Sets Record with 31 Goals by Substitutes

With 31 goals by substitutes, the 2014 World Cup smashed the previous record of 24 set at the 2006 tournament in Germany, per ESPN Stats & Info.

That such a mark fell should come as no surprise, given that the 2014 tournament featured a record-tying 171 goals, matched only by the 1998 edition in France.

What's more, the 2014 World Cup set another record with 22 goals scored in the 90th minute or later, breaking the mark of 13 from back in 2006, per ESPN Stats & Info.

Fittingly enough, the tournament's final goal—which matched the record of 171 from 1998—came courtesy of a substitute after the 90th minute.

Germany's Mario Goetze, who came on in the 88th minute of Sunday's final against Argentina, netted the tournament-winning goal in the 113th minute to lift Die Mannschaft to a 1-0 victory.

Goetze's goal was truly worthy of its stage, as the versatile Bayern Munich man took a cross from fellow substitute Andre Schurrle off his chest, then knocked the ball past Argentine keeper Sergio Romero with his second touch.

A talented player who would start for nearly any other team in the tournament, Goetze scored the 2014 World Cup's defining goal in a game that he nearly didn't get into.