King Klose and his victory record

Miroslav Klose is the FIFA World Cup™ record man.

At Brazil 2014, he netted his 16th tournament goal in Germany's 7-1 semi-final demolition of Brazil to become the finals' record scorer. Die Mannschaft then downed Argentina for Klose to clinch a record fourth World Cup medal, following silver in 2002, and bronzes in 2006 and 2010.

That showpiece victory in Rio also secured Klose a 17th win at the finals, taking him into top spot as the player with the most tournament victories.

The signs that Klose would go on to become a World Cup great were there from the offset. Germany laid down their 2002 title credentials in their opening match with an 8-0 thrashing of Saudi Arabia, with Klose marking his tournament bow by becoming just the second player to register a hat-trick of headers.

He netted in their next victory over Cameroon, with three more wins taking Germany to the Yokohama showpiece and a maiden tournament meeting with Brazil. Klose and Co pressed, but they were denied the title by a Ronaldo double.

Klose was on fire once again at Germany's home finals four years later, netting five across as many wins en route to a semi-final battle with Italy. The hosts were edged out by the eventual winners at the Westfalenstadion, but claimed a spot on the podium with a third-place victory over Portugal, as the somersaulting forward seized the adidas Golden Boot.

South Africa 2010 started well for Klose, as he netted in a third successive opening-day win over Australia, but saw red in the defeat to Serbia in their next match and missed the victory over Ghana.

He roared back in the knockouts, though, scoring his 50th International goal in victory over England, and hit a brace on his 100th cap in the 4-0 humbling of Argentina. Spain stifled the Germans in the semis, ensuring they fell to the eventual winners for a third straight tournament. Klose would take home a second bronze medal, although he remained on the bench for the victory over Uruguay.

Joachim Low drew criticism for selecting Klose, by then 36 and off the back of an injury-ravaged season for Lazio, as his only recognised striker in his Brazil 2014 squad. They needn't have worried.

He begun the tournament on the bench as Germany thrashed Portugal, but emerged from it to rescue his team with a late goal against Ghana. That saw him make the XI for their victory over USA which rubber-stamped top spot in Group G.

The veteran forward took up a watching brief for the nervy win over Algeria in the last 16, before returning to spearhead another narrow victory, this time over France, in the Rio quarter-final.

Low's title hopefuls rode their luck to reach the semis but quickly changed the record against Brazil, notching five goals in an 18-minute blitz to stun their hosts. Klose further twisted the knife by stealing Ronaldo's record as the tournament's record scorer with 16 by netting the second, as the European giants marched into the final with a 7-1 victory.

Twelve years on from his first crack at the showpiece, Klose once again eyed up a South American foe with Argentina the challengers at a packed Maracana.

He played 88 minutes before making way for Mario Gotze in what proved to be one of the World Cup's most momentous substitutions. Gotze would, indeed, go on to net the extra-time winner to see the Germans clinch a fourth World Crown.

That win took the World Cup's marathon man clear of Brazil icon Cafu and on to a record 17 tournament victories. He retired from international duty a month after the final, departing the scene with a plethora of goals and records, and having never finished off the World Cup podium.