Miroslav Klose. A name that football fans across the globe will be familiar of. For many years, the presence of Klose has been known and impacted football both at club and international level. At thirty-six years old, Klose continues to have a similar impact for his country, as Klose and his team-mates are one game away from becoming world champions. It is Argentina who provide the final hurdle for Germany to overcome in the Maracanã. 

Miroslav Klose was the only natural 'number-nine' type striker selected by Joachim Löw for Germany's campaign as Löw commonly adopted playing a false nine tactic. However, Löw soon remembered the importance of his experienced striker who was gunning for a personal milestone. Legendary Brazilian striker Ronaldo's record of fifteen goals scored in all of the World Cup's he played, including the remarkable eight goals he scored in South Korea and Japan still stood as the highest amount of goals by one player to play in the tournament. Yet it was slowly being picked away by the German who arrived at the World Cup with fourteen World Cup goals, one shy of 'Il Fenomeno'. Klose soon equalled his tally in the 2-2 draw with Ghana, ironically the team that Ronaldo set the record against in Germany back in 2006. Klose's involvement continued but it wasn't until the semi-final against Ronaldo's native Brazil that Klose broke the record and made it his own. Miroslav Klose soon reached sixteen as he scored the most significant goal in the 7-1 humiliation of Brazil in Belo Horizonte, rubbing salt deeper into the wounds of Brazilian supporters. Four World Cups and twelve years later, Klose achieved the unthinkable and become the highest scoring player in World Cup history with sixteen goals throughout his twenty-three appearances. That record alone confirms Klose's status as a legend of international football, but he'll be hungry to end as a World Cup winner. 

Miroslav Klose certainly loves the World Cup, and it has been a pleasure for football fans worldwide to witness him leave his mark. Below are a handful of admirable facts of Miroslav Klose's World Cup achievements: 

  • He is one of three players to score in four different World Cups - alongside Pele and Uwe Seeler. 
  • Klose's sixteen goals in twenty-three appearances makes him the new-standing highest scorer in the competition's history. 
  • Miroslav Klose has played in four World Cup semi finals - no player has yet to match that achievement. 
  • For Germany, Klose has found the back of the net seventy-one times. Germany has never lost a game in which Klose has scored.

The 2014 World Cup will go down as a landmark in the career of Miroslav Klose as he has set a new boundary in remarkable fashion. But will Klose be remembered in the style he deserves to be should Argentina defeat Germany on Sunday? That's to be discovered, but winning the competition will only enhance his status as a legend of the game. Undoubtedly, Klose already has an illustrious career with an array of achievements, medals and trophies to show for it. The dedication, commitment and memorable moments will last a lifetime as Klose will leave a legacy behind him once his playing days come to an end. However, it seems as if winning the World Cup would be the icing on the cake for Klose as he and Germany chase a fourth World Cup, their first for twenty-four years. 

As a player and a person: Klose has been superb will certainly retire as one of the modern-day greats. He's absolutely left his mark on international football, but to ensure he is held in high regard in years to come - Klose lifting the World Cup would be a phenomenal achievement, one that many would be hoping to see.