Germany striker Miroslav Klose became the all-time leading scorer in World Cup history by netting his 16th finals goal in the 7-1 semi-final victory over Brazil.
The 36-year-old Lazio striker had already pulled level with Brazilian legend Ronaldo when he scored in the 71st minute of Germany's clash with Ghana and went one better in the semis in Belo Horizonte.
Klose is Germany's leading goalscorer with 71 goals in 136 games, and he is the only player to net at four World Cup finals.
His goal against Brazil came in his 23rd World Cup appearance, a tally only countryman Lothar Matthaus has bettered
The striker -- who became the first player to ever appear in four World Cup semifinals -- put Joachim Low's side into a 2-0 lead with a 23rd-minute strike.
Klose's 15th goal came in his 20th World Cup appearance against Ghana and, after failing to score against the USA or make an appearance against Algeria in the round of 16, his 16th goal came in his 23rd, and he has scored at four consecutive tournaments -- only the third player to achieve that feat after Brazil legend Pele and West Germany's Uwe Seeler.
"One strike is not enough for me. I need to add more," Klose said before breaking the record. "I've got brutal mind, always prepare for everything. I don't take any offence [when not starting], I know that I can always help the team, in whatever way. I am ready, you already saw that against Ghana."
In 2002, Klose scored five goals, all of them headers as an ageing Germany side progressed to the final. He added another five on home soil in 2006, where he also won the Golden Boot, before netting four more in South Africa in 2010.
Germany have never lost a game in which he has scored.
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