Klose Sets World Cup Goals All-Time Record

Germany striker Miroslav Klose set the record for the most goals in a World Cup finals on Friday.

His 23rd minute strike helped set the tone for a 7-1 annihilation of an emotional host nation, which could only watch as its defence crumbled with every attack movement by the Germans.

The 36-year-old Lazio marksman has now scored 16 finals goals in 23 games- a goal tally only countryman Lothar Matthaus has bettered.

Klose Becomes the Highest-Scoring Player at the Fifa World Cup Finals. Image: Fifa via Getty Image.
Klose Becomes the Highest-Scoring Player at the Fifa World Cup Finals. Image: Fifa via Getty Image.

He moved level with former Brazil striker Ronaldo by scoring the equaliser against Ghana earlier in the tournament.

The Germany goal king with 71 goals in 136 games is the third player to net at four World Cup finals.

Brazil legend Pele and West Germany’s Uwe Seeler both scored at the 1958, 1962, 1966 and 1970 finals.

It is the first time Klose is netting in a World Cup semi-final.

Germany were already 5-0 up inside the opening half-hour, courtesy of a Thomas Muller early strike, Klose doubled the lead, Toni Kroos’ double inflicted more woes on the five time champions and Sami Khedira netted a fifth.

Chelsea’s Andre Schurrle scored a brace after coming on for Klose in second-half and his club team-mate Oscar grabbed a consolation for Brazil, at whose point the partisan crowd at the Estadio Mineirao has started cheering every move by the opponent.