The Best World Cup Strikers of All-Time: Part 2
Qatar is just around the corner. Let's take a look at Part 2 of the top 10 best World Cup strikers of all-time.
#5. Gerd Muller
Gerd Muller has the third-highest World Cup goals in history with 14 goals. He held the record for most World Cup goals for 32 years before Ronaldo surpassed him in 2006.
Muller scored 10 of his goals in the 1970 World Cup and 4 goals in the 1974 World Cup. Of all his World Cup goals, none were more important than the winning goal of the 1974 World Cup final.
His 68 goals in 62 games for West Germany was also a national record until Klose surpassed him in 2014. Klose did however need 132 games to catch Muller's record.
#4. Ronaldo
Ronaldo is the second highest World Cup goalscorer in history with 15 goals, surpassed only by Miroslav Klose at the 2014 World Cup.
Like Pele, Ronaldo was 17-years old when becoming a World Cup winner for the first time in 1994. He finished his career with a second World Cup in 2002, scoring two in the final against Germany and taking his total to 8 in the tournament.
Ronaldo's other 7 goals came in the 1998 World Cup (4) and 2006 World Cup (3).
#3. Maradona
Maradona was instrumental in Argentina's 1986 World Cup win. During the quarter-final against England, Maradona scored the Goal of the Century not long after scoring one of the most infamous and most memorable goals ever, the Hand of God.
Across four World Cups Maradona played 21 games, scoring 8 goals. He earned 152 free kicks across his World Cup games, the most earned by any player in history and a sign of just how necessary it was to stop him.
#2. Pele
Pele is considered by many to be the best football player in history. Along with Miroslav Klose, Uwe Seeler and Christian Ronaldo, the four are the only players to have scored in four separate World Cup tournaments.
He scored a total of 77 goals for Brazil, 12 of them during World Cups. Pele put himself on the world map scoring 6 goals as a 17-year old at the succeasful 1958 World Cup campaign.
Pele in the process became the youngest footballer to play, score and win a World Cup final as Brazil beat hosts Sweden 5-2. He went on to win three of the four World Cups he played in and solidifying himself as one of the best strikers and players of all-time.
#1. Miroslav Klose
Miroslav Klose has score the most World Cup goals in history. He tops the list of all-time goalscorers at the World Cup with 16 goals across four World Cups. Klose has scored at least five goals in two World Cups, something only Thomas Muller and Teofilo Cubillas has achieved.
Klose was a typical centre-forward prototype unstoppable at World Cup level thanks to his tactical intelligence, strength, timing, aerial ability, accuracy and finishing ability both in the air and on the ground. Klose scored two goals in Germany's 2014 World Cup winning campaign, overtaking Ronaldo's record of 15 goals at 36-years old, his 16th World Cup goal coming against none other than Brazil.
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Of all the people in the list, I really enjoy watching miroslav klose! He was exceptional, something like the current lewandoski. But with the German squad then. I enjoyed their football (The German Machine).
Great post! I will check the part 1 now
Agree bro my fav growing up was Podolski. Klose was far more consistent however. Thomas Muller reminds me of Klose a bit on World Cup level
You just had to bring my club(Arsenal) to this? Lukas Podolski, I loved him. But he didn't really excel well with Arsenal but watching him, you just know he is special.
Great player who didnt reach his potential with us but loved him.
This list is quite expressive and believable but I personally would still prefer Pele as No. 1
Tbf recency bias may play a part as I watched each Klose goal live on TV. The fact hes got most World Cup goals helps support it, but in terms of best overall player of all-time out of players on this list itll definitely be Pele.
I think I agree more with this conclusion.
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King Pele, I have wanted to write about him but it is difficult, I have never seen him play, and there are few videos of him. But without a doubt he had to be in your top 5.
I was waiting for this all day. Glad it finally dropped.
Great post but I think Franz backenbauer is a notably missing here, Played in 3 world cups and won the 1974 WC trophy beating Johan cruyff's team, Another great.
Good list although I would have preferred other strikers, I agree with most of the ones you put.
One of the best lists that I have seen. Also, I love how you put those interesting information making this publication an interesting read. Greetings from the Philippines!
Oh now I see who I was missing from my prediction... Gerd Muller! Shame on me :)