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Miroslav Klose has this evening beaten Ronaldo's record to become the Guinness World Records title holder for Most FIFA World Cup finals goals by a football (soccer) player.

The 36-year-old German striker netted his side's second goal in the semi-final against Brazil to become the record holder outright with 16, in a match which saw the tournament hosts concede five goals in the opening half.

The match eventually ended 7-1 to the Germans in an emphatic display which ensured the Europeans will appear in their eighth final - edging past Brazil on seven to see them take the record for most World Cup Final appearances.

Klose’s record-setting 21st-minute strike was his second of the tournament after he came off the bench against Ghana to net in the group stage, which had put him level with the Brazil legend Ronaldo.

To further compound the misery for Brazil, Germany also took their record for most World Cup goals scored by a team, with their seven goals this evening taking them to 223 goals, breaking Brazil's record of 220 (Oscar's consolation goal for the hosts tonight took them to 221).

Lazio star Klose had been hotly tipped to set the record after being named as Germany’s only recognised out-and-out striker for this year's tournament.

With 71 goals in 136 matches, Klose now stands as Germany's all-time top scorer, having beaten the record previously held by Gerd Mueller.
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The former Kaiserslautern, Werder Bremen and Bayern Munich hit-man currently boasts an incredible ratio of 1.08 goals per World Cup game and is one of only three players to score in four different World Cups alongside his compatriot Uwe Seeler and Brazilian legend Pel é.

Klose was born in Poland and spoke almost no German when he moved to Germany with his family as an eight-year-old in 1986.

He marked his first appearance for Germany by heading the winner to earn his country a 2-1 victory over Albania in 2001.

He began his World Cup career in 2002 in South Korea and Japan with five headed goals as Germany reached the final, where they eventually lost 2-0 to Brazil with Ronaldo scoring twice.

Four years later with Germany as hosts, Klose won the Golden Boot when he scored another five goals in leading Germany to the semi-finals. In 2010 he scored four more in South Africa.

With his contract with Italian club Lazio set to expire this summer, Klose is set for a move to the US after the World Cup, amid rumours he may on his way to a club playing in the MLS.

Miroslav Klose World Cup goals fact file

  • 4 World Cups (02, 06, 10, 14)
  • 21 starts, 2 sub appearances, 4 unused sub
  • 1,645 minutes, 15 goals
  • Korea/Japan 02 - 5 goals in 7 games
  • Germany 06 - 5 goals in 7 games South Africa 10 - 4 goals in 5 games
  • Brazil 14 - 2 goal in 4 games
  • Runner-up in 2002

All-time World Cup goal-scorers

  • Miroslav Klose 16 goals
  • Ronaldo 15
  • Gerd Muller 14
  • Just Fontaine 13
  • Pele 12
  • Jurgen Klinsmann 11
  • Gary Lineker 10