Miroslav Klose has announced his retirement from international soccer less than one month after winning the World Cup with Germany in Brazil and becoming the all-time leading goalscorer in World Cup history.

The 36-year-old enjoyed a largely successful international career spanning for over 13 years where he scored 71 goals in 137 appearances for the nation.

The attacker, who broke Brazilian Ronaldo’s all-time World Cup top scorer record by scoring his 15th and 16th goal in Brazil, believes the time was right for him to hang up his boots on his international career.

“With the title in Brazil, a childhood dream came true,” Klose told the official German FA (DFB) website.

“There’s no better way for me to end my time with the German team than by winning the World Cup.

“The team’s success always came first for me. We have reached the objective that we set [by winning the World Cup].

“I am proud and happy that I was able to help shape this great success for German football.

“(It was) a unique and wonderful time and so many unforgettable moments with Die Nationalmannschaft”.

Klose then chose to reflect on his international career, revealing that it was in his nature to score goals and took some time out to thank his teammate for their support.

“I have also achieved some personal goals,” he mused. “I am a striker and my job is to score goals.

“It was never about records for me, but always about helping the team. I have to rely on my team-mates in order to be successful, so I would like to thank all my team-mates.”

Head coach Joachim Low paid tribute to Klose, saying that he was top professional and is grateful for the chance to work with him.

“(Klose was) someone you can always rely on, an international star and one of the greatest strikers,” he said.

“When I joined the DFB as the assistant coach in 2004, Klose was already there. I am happy and grateful that I was able to work with Miroslav Klose.”

Klose made his international debut back in 2001 in a World Cup qualifier against Albania, a match in which he headed home two minutes time to give the Germans a 2-1 win. He has since played in four World Cups in what has been an illustrious career.