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Berlin, Germany (SportsNetwork.com) - Germany's all-time leading goal scorer Miroslav Klose announced his retirement from international football on Monday.

Klose, 36, helped his country win the World Cup in Brazil and became the all- time leading scorer in tournament history with 16 World Cup goals when he netted the record-breaking tally in Germany's 7-1 rout of Brazil in the semifinals.

Klose has totaled 71 goals in 137 international appearances and became the third player to score at four World Cups.

"Winning the title in Brazil was a childhood dream come true," said Klose in a statement released by the German Football Association. "I am happy and proud to have contributed to this big success for German football."

Klose made the first of his 137 international appearances in 2001 and broke Gerd Muller's 40-year-old record of 68 goals in June.

"When I met up with Miro last week he told he me he had thought long about it and talked to his family," said Germany national team manager Joachim Low. "I immediately sensed that his decision was irreversible and that I cannot convince him otherwise.

"You can always count on Miro to keep his word and that was the case in Brazil as well.I have a lot of respect for Miro's decision as well as for his unbelievable national team career that is all but impossible to trump."

In addition to the World Cup success this year, Klose's 13-year international career also included a runner-up finish at the 2002 World Cup, along with third-place finishes in 2006 and 2010 and a runner-up finish at the 2008 European Championships.