Argentina ace Sergio Aguero feared his World Cup dream was over after hobbling off the pitch with a hamstring injury in his side's group game against Nigeria.
Now the Manchester City striker says he will put his body on the line to help his country lift the trophy for the first time since Diego Maradona's legends of 1986.
The 26-year-old made just 20 Premier League starts last season with groin and hamstring problems holding him back.
He still managed to hit the net 17 times but after an injury-hit campaign Aguero is desperate to make his mark in the final against Germany at the Maracana on Sunday.
Aguero said: "When you come back from an injury, it is always in the back of your mind whether it will return.
"I had to train and try to be as good as I could be. When you miss three games, especially in a World Cup, you realise what you are missing.
"We are all aware of what the objective is and we will leave everything on the field to achieve it."
Argentina have failed to hit top form despite reaching their first World Cup final in 24 years – a 1-0 defeat against this weekend's opponents Germany at Italia 90.
They only squeezed past the Netherlands in a penalty shoot-out after a goalless draw in the semi-finals and required an extra-time goal from Angel di Maria against Switzerland in the last-16.
By contrast Germany dished out the heaviest ever defeat on hosts Brazil in their last-four clash, the 7-1 victory sending shockwaves through the nation and beyond.
But Aguero believes being underdogs for the showpiece could play into Argentine hands.
He said "We are in the final and we have to play it and win it in whatever way possible. It is clear that Argentina always go out to win, but sometimes during the game you have to be cautious.
"Germany were always the favourites, along with Brazil, to win the World Cup. They continue to be so now. We need to play our own game and it suits us that all the pressure is on them.
"We want to have control of the ball, but we know that Germany is a great team that know each other off by heart having played together for many years."
