Germany’s Miroslav Klose scores against Ghana at the Castelao arena in Fortaleza on Saturday.

DPA/Fortaleza

 

That came in the 71st minute of the World Cup Group G game against Ghana on Saturday when he mopped up in front of goal for his 15th World Cup goal in all - drawing level with the record held alone until now by former Brazil striker Ronaldo.

The Lazio striker had only been on the pitch as a substitute for two minutes, but with Germany 2-1 down he was in the right place at the far post after a corner by Toni Kroos was headed on by Benedikt Hoewedes.

If ever there was a goal which deserved a Klose somersault this was it - the 15th World Cup goal preventing a major upset.

“I don’t know how long it is since I last did the somersault. It wasn’t quite right,” Klose said.

“Twenty (World Cup) matches, 15 goals - that’s really not bad, but now the important thing is that we play well against USA.”

Klose had been level on 14 World Cup goals with former German star Gerd Mueller - and now betters another record long held by the German goalscoring legend.

The Polish-born Klose had became Germany’s all-time scorer on June 6 with his 69th goal, moving ahead of Mueller’s previous mark of 68.

The goal against Ghana is number 70 and he even came close to going clear of Ronaldo with a chance in the 89th minute.

Klose’s first World Cup goals came with a hat-trick in his first World Cup match against Saudi Arabia in 2002, when he finished with five goals.

He added five more goals in 2006 in taking the Golden Boot trophy and scored four at South Africa 2010.

Now he joins compatriot Uwe Seeler and Brazil icon Pele to have scored at four World Cups.

Ronaldo, who scored his 15 at three editions 1998, 2002 and 2006, congratulated Klose via Twitter.

“Welcome to the club,” he said in Portuguese, English and German.

“I can imagine your joy. What a nice World Cup,” he added, while Brazilian network SporTV showed each of Ronaldo’s and Klose’s 15 goals.

Klose, who has just extended his contract with Lazio, is the only true striker in Joachim Loew’s World Cup squad.

He has had to accept a role in the substitutes’ bench so far in Brazil, with Loew choosing to play with three attacking midfielders rather than an orthodox forward.

“I am ready for anything. You want to help the team in any way you can,” he had said before the game,” Klose said.

Meanwhile, the German press was all praise for Klose.

“Thanks, Old Guy!” headlined the Bild am Sonntag tabloid on its front page, showing a photo of Germany’s all-time record scorer doing his flip jump.

“Klose rescues Germany,” said the broadsheet Welt am Sonntag highlighting his role in the dramatic game which finished 2-2. The Berliner Morgenpost proclaimed it’s “world class to have a striker like Klose.”

“I’m incredibly pleased for him, that is another high point in his unparalleled career,” said coach Joachim Loew. 

“It has not been an easy season for him, but he has done it again and got himself in top shape for a tournament. For a coach it is of course great to have options like him on the bench.”

Klose has said next year will be his last in Germany’s white shirt. But he could yet break Lothar Matthaeus’ record of 150 caps. He has so far played in 133 internationals and scored 70 goals.

Klose sat out Germany’s 4-0 thumping of Portugal on Monday when Thomas Mueller claimed a hat-trick in his place.

“You really want to come in when the team is winning,” admitted Klose.

“It doesn’t matter whether I play from the start or come off the bench: all games are important and 15 goals in 20 World Cup games isn’t bad.”