Miroslav Klose - World Cup's all-time top scorer - retires from internationals
German striker Miroslav Klose, the all-time World Cup top scorer, retired from international football on Monday.
The 36-year-old leaves the German national team as a World Cup winner after last month helping Joachim Loew's side to their first global crown since 1990 when they defeated Argentina 1-0 in the Rio-hosted final.
The Lazio frontman picked up his 16th goal, in what was his fourth World Cup, to surpass Brazilian Ronaldo as the tournament's leading scorer.
I fulfilled a childhood dream with the title in Brazil ... and lived unforgettable moments with the national team
Klose, who won two German titles with Bayern Munich following spells with Kaiserslautern and Werder Bremen, said he had "fulfilled a childhood dream with the title in Brazil" and lived "unforgettable moments with the national team", according to a statement released by the German football federation.
"The success of the team stood and always stands for me in the highest place," Klose said.
"With the national team I achieved our greatest goal, a goal which we had together within the squad.
"In addition, I achieved personal goals and those who know me know that I am very ambitious, but I am a striker and the task of a striker is to score goals.