World Cup 2014: Miroslav Klose Equals World Cup Scoring Record

When the moment came, Miroslav Klose was ready.

One outstretched right boot and one simple tap-in was all it took to score a goal that sealed his place in the World Cup annals.

The goal was typical of Klose - it wasn't spectacular; but it was instinctive and, above all, important.

Top five World Cup goalscorers
Position	Name	Country	Goals	Matches Played	Goal Average	Tournaments
=1	Ronaldo	Brazil	15	19	0.79	1998, 2002, 2006
=1	Miroslav Klose	Germany	15	20	0.75	2002, 2006, 2010, 2014
3	Gerd Muller	West Germany	14	13	1.08	1970, 1974
4	Just Fontaine	France	13	6	2.17	1958
5	Pele	Brazil	12	14	0.86	1958, 1962, 1966, 1970

It arrived with Germany trailing Ghana 2-1 and only 19 minutes left to play in a pulsating Group G match.

Benedikt Howedes's header might have been going in; it might have struck the post. Klose wasn't going to take the chance. The 36-year-old had only been on the field for 112 seconds and had not yet touched the ball. But his instincts were sharp, and his anticipation took him beyond the defence to prod in from a yard.

As he turned away to celebrate, arms outstretched, it might have taken a moment for the significance of the goal to sink in. Those who know him say the team always comes first, but a record-equalling 15th goal in World Cup finals had been on his radar.

That the goal came against Ghana was a neat piece of symmetry because Ronaldo - the Brazil legend whose record the German has matched - had scored his last World Cup goal against the same opponents in 2006.

Ronaldo has been all too aware of the possibility of losing his record.

He spoke at a fans' festival in Fortaleza only last week, and his message to the Brazilian fans was clear. "I have one big favour to ask of you," he said. "Please cast a tiny spell on Miroslav Klose. That would be good, so that Klose scores no goals."

Whether or not his record is surpassed, Ronaldo will always be considered one of the greats of the modern game. Klose, despite this accomplishment, will not.

And yet the Lazio striker is breaking records that great players of the game have set. He joins Brazil legend Pele and fellow Germany forward Uwe Seeler as the third man to score at four World Cups. He has surpassed the great Gerd Muller as Germany's leading scorer with 70 goals. ……BBC