The Germany national team has showcased some of the most talented players to play the beautiful game, leading the nation to footballing glory.
Ahead of the Qatar World Cup 2022, Here are the five players with the most goals for Die Mannschaft…
Jurgen Klinsmann- 47 goals- 0.44 goals per 90 minutes
Klinsmann was a regular goalscorer in the majority of Europe’s top five leagues over the course of his career, having good records in the Premier League, Bundesliga, Serie A and Ligue 1.
A two-time German footballer of the year, Klinsmann has had his fair share of glory in the national team, winning the European Championships and the World Cup.
Klinsmann had his first bit of international success in the 1990 World Cup, where he scored three goals, including a crucial one in the round of 16 – the opener against the Netherlands.
Germany went on to lift the trophy that year.
Also, Germany reached the pinnacle of European football as they won the 1996 Euros with Klinsmann captaining his country and scoring three goals, which included a goal in the quarter-finals against Croatia.
Klinsmann’s final international goal came in the round of 16 of the 1998 FIFA World Cup, scoring the equalizer in a 2-1 win over Mexico.
Rudi Voller – 47 goals – 0.52 goals per 90 minutes
Voller had a credible record for both club and country with over 300 career goals at domestic level.
His form was the same at the international level as he was a regular feature on the scoresheet during the 1980s.
Voller’s first international goal came in a 1983 European Qualifier against Albania.
Voller almost had international success at the 1986 World Cup, but his three goals wouldn’t be enough as Germany lost to Argentina in the final.
The forward didn’t have much European success, but he did get a World Cup under his name when Germany lifted the trophy in 1990 with him scoring three goals in the competition.
Voller’s final goal came in the 1994 World Cup, where he scored a brace and got an assist in an unbelievable display during a 3-2 victory over Belgium in the round of 16.
Lukas Podolski- 49 goals- 0.38 goals per 90 minutes
A crucial component in Germany’s national team for half a decade, Lukas Podolski’s speed and power made him difficult for defenses to contain.
Podolski tallied 5 World Cup goals and 4 Euros goals in a German side that looked to be getting stronger and stronger.
He featured and scored in the famous 4-1 victory over England in the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
However, he finally got a winners medal for being in the World Cup winning squad in 2014, which was well deserved for his service over the years, even though he didn’t score in the tournament.
Podolski’s final international goal came in a friendly in 2017 when Germany defeated England 1-0.
Gerd Muller – 68 goals – 1.10 goals per 90 minutes
A Bayern Munich legend, Gerd Muller’s goalscoring ability made him one of the deadliest finishers in footballing history.
Muller played 606 games for Bayern Munich, scoring 556 goals and providing 102 assists.
Muller’s club form transferred to the international stage as he scored more goals than games played, netting 14 World Cup goals in only 13 tournament appearances.
His first pick of the goals came in a European Qualifiers fixture against Albania, where he scored four in a 6-0 victory.
Muller’s first major tournament came in the 1970 World Cup, where he scored ten goals in a campaign which saw them exit in the semi-finals after losing to Italy 4-3 in extra time.
Read more: World Cup 2022: Dates, Schedule, Location, Groups, Tickets, Odds And More
The campaign did have some positives for the forward as he took home the Golden Boot.
His first taste of silverware with Germany came in the 1972 Euros, as his brace against Belgium in the semi-finals saw Die Mannscahft play the USSR in the final.
Muller would mirror his semi-final performance and score another brace in a dominant 3-0 win over the USSR.
However, he saved the best for last as he finally got his hands on a World Cup trophy after Germany was crowned champions of the world in the 1974 World Cup.
Muller scored four goals, with his last ever international strike coming in the final, where he scored the winning goal in a 2-1 win against Holland.
Miroslav Klose – 71 goals – 0.52 goals per 90 minutes
The record holder for the most goals in World Cup history, Miroslav Klose is one of the most respected and highest performing international players, scoring 16 World Cup goals in 24 games across four campaigns.
Klose’s first goal on the international stage came in a 2002 World Cup qualifying game against Albania, where he netted in the 2-1 win.
Before the 2002 World Cup, Klose bagged two hattricks for Germany against Israel and Austria.
The tournament itself saw Klose bag five goals and almost take home the Golden Boot and World Cup trophy, but he would fall short of Brazil and Ronaldo Nazario.
However, even though Germany again didn’t lift the trophy in 2006, Klose hit another five goals to win the Golden Boot.
Klose would bag another four goals in the 2010 FIFA World Cup, but it wouldn’t be until the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil that he would finally get his hands on a winning medal.
His final international goal came in the shocking 7-1 decimation of the home nation in the semi-finals of this competition.
