The 36-year-old Lazio striker, playing at his fourth World Cup, also scored in Germany's 2-2 draw with Ghana in the group stage when he came off the bench to get Germany back into the contest.

Given the occasion in Belo Horizonte, a special celebration was surely in the works. But Klose refrained even from doing his trademark back flip to mark the goal, which came in his 23rd World Cup match.

“I got hit in my left foot while attempting a shot and I was not able to do the flip,” Klose said.

While Klose played down the record and attributed his scoring record to Germany's teamwork and strong set piece, coach Joachim Loew praised the veteran striker.

“Miro is incredible. To set the record and to do it in Brazil is a great performance,” Loew said. “It really means a lot to all of us. This is a record. This is a record that could be beaten only by (Thomas) Mueller.

“We believe that he really deserves it. Because at his age, he is still playing at the highest possible level.”

Mueller scored the opening goal against Brazil and now has 10 goals in two World Cup tournaments.

Klose began the tournament on the bench but Loew has returned to the one-striker formation and it is paying off.

With 70 goals in 134 matches, Poland-born Klose is Germany's all-time top scorer, having beaten the record previously held by Gerd Mueller.

He was the top scorer and Golden Boot winner at the 2006 World Cup in Germany with five goals. Klose also scored five goals in his first World Cup, in 2002. He scored four at South Africa in 2010.

(AP)