World Cup 2014: Miroslav Klose equals World Cup scoring recordBy Ben Smith BBC Sport in Fortaleza
22 June 2014
When the moment came, Miroslav Klose was ready.
One outstretched right boot, one simple tap-in, was all it took to score a goal that sealed his place in the World Cup annals.
The goal was typical of Klose - it wasn't spectacular; but it was instinctive and, above all, important.
It arrived with Germany trailing Ghana 2-1 and only 19 minutes left to play in a pulsating Group G match.
Benedikt Howedes's header might have been going in; it might have struck the post. Klose wasn't going to take the chance. The 36-year-old had only been on the field for 112 seconds and had not yet touched the ball. But his instincts were sharp, and his anticipation took him beyond the defence to prod in from a yard.
As he turned away to celebrate, arms outstretched, it might have taken a moment for the significance of the goal to sink in. Those who know him say the team always comes first, but a record-equalling 15th goal in World Cup finals had been on his radar.
That the goal came against Ghana was a neat piece of symmetry because Ronaldo - the Brazil legend whose record the German has matched - had scored his last World Cup goal against the same opponents in 2006.
Ronaldo has been all too aware of the possibility of losing his record.
He spoke at a fans' festival in Fortaleza only last week, and his message to the Brazilian fans was clear. "I have one big favour to ask of you," he said. "Please cast a tiny spell on Miroslav Klose. That would be good, so that Klose scores no goals."
Whether or not his record is surpassed, Ronaldo will always be considered one of the greats of the modern game. Klose, despite this accomplishment, will not.
And yet the Lazio striker is breaking records that great players of the game have set.
He joins Pele and Uwe Seeler as the third man to score at four World Cups. He has surpassed the great Gerd Muller as Germany's leading scorer with 70 goals. And significantly, Germany have never lost when he has found the net.
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