German striker Miroslav Klose, the all-time Soccer World Cup top
scorer, announced his retirement from international football on Monday.
The
36-year-old leaves the German 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 Rio-hosted final.
The
Lazio frontman picked up his 16th goal, in what was his fourth World
Cup, to surpass Brazilian Ronaldo as the tournament's leading scorer.
Klose,
who won two German 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
football 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 at South Africa and two in 2014.
He
broke the World Cup record for goals in July 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 Cups, 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, saying: "For Miro it was always an
honour to be called up into the national team. He's given everything for
Germany.
"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."
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 honour in the history books."
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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