Germany striker Miroslav Klose, the all-time World Cup top scorer, announced his retirement from international soccer on Monday.
The 36-year-old leaves the Germany national team as a World Cup winner after last month helping Joachim Loew’s side to their first global crown since 1990 when they defeated Argentina 1-0 in the final in Rio de Janeiro.
The SS Lazio striker picked up his 16th goal, in what was his fourth World Cup, to surpass Brazil’s Ronaldo as the tournament’s leading scorer.
Photo: Reuters
Klose, who won two Bundesliga titles with Bayern Munich following spells with Kaiserslautern and Werder Bremen, said he had “fulfilled a childhood dream with the title in Brazil” and lived “unforgettable moments with the national team,” according to a statement released by the German soccer federation.
“The success of the team stood and always stands for me in the highest place,” Klose said. “With the national team I achieved our greatest goal, a goal which we had together within the squad. In addition, I achieved personal goals and those who know me know that I am very ambitious, but I am a striker and the task of a striker is to score goals. Therefore the records never concerned me, but it was always about giving my best for the team.”
The Polish-born marksman scored five goals at the 2002 World Cup, where Germany were beaten 2-0 by Ronaldo’s Brazil in the final, five in 2006 on home soil, four in 2010 in South Africa and two this summer.
He broke the World Cup record for goals last month when he found the target for his 16th strike during the 7-1 semi-final rout of Brazil.
He is one of just three players, alongside Pele and Uwe Seeler, to score in four World Cup finals and finishes his Germany career as the country’s all-time leading scorer with 71 goals in 137 appearances.
Loew was quick to heap praise on Klose.
“For Miro it was always an honor to be called up into the national team. He’s given everything for Germany,” the national coach said. “I have the biggest respect for his decision and for his incredible career in the national team, which will be a tough one to better.”
German soccer federation president Wolfgang Niersbach said Klose was “not only an exceptional player, but also an absolutely exemplary man.”
“With his 71 goals for the national team and his 16 goals in the World Cup, he has established two phenomenal records that will ensure him a place of honor in the history books,” Niersbach said.
Klose kicked off his international career against Albania on March 24, 2001, going on to enjoy a 13-year career with the Mannschaft, only Lothar Matthaus having won more caps (150).
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