'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Germany’s all-time top goalscorer and the top scorer in the history of the FIFA World Cup, Miroslav Klose, announced his retirement from international football earlier today. The 36 year old with 71 goals in 137 appearances leaves a legacy that will be hard to match up to.
"I am proud and happy that I was able to shape this great success for German football. I had a unique and wonderful time and many memorable moments in the national team”, said the German legend in an official announcement. His country has never lost a match in which he has scored.
"With the title in Brazil, a childhood dream was met”, continued the statement.
Klose almost ended up playing for Poland when he started out, before being brought on for Germany as a substitute in the 2002 World Cup. The rest, as they say, is history. Klose leaves the international stage with the unique distinction of having scored at least 4 goals in three different World Cups.
Klose was popular also for his sportsman spirit, he shall be missed in what is increasingly becoming a less civilized game. While turning out for his club Lazio, he once told the referee that he had scored a goal with his hand even though he had been awarded a goal. Klose has recently renewed his contract with Lazio and it is highly likely now that he shall see off his club career at the club he joined in 2011.
Germany national coach Joachim Loew has described the long-time servant of German football as a "world star".
