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European football's all-time top international goalscorers

As Robbie Keane closes in on Gerd Muller's goalscoring record, Sports Mole looks at European football's most prolific marksmen.

As we prepare for another batch of European qualifiers over the coming days, many teams are still left to battle it out for the remaining spots at France 2016.

On a more personal level, there is also a real tussle in the individual goalscoring stakes, with the Republic of Ireland's Robbie Keane now one goal away from equalling Gerd Muller's record of 68.

Here, Sports Mole takes a look at the top-five leading international scorers from European nations - only one of which still has a chance of adding to their impressive tally.


5. Robbie Keane

Country: Republic of Ireland
Goals: 67
Caps: 141

Friday's brace against Gibraltar leaves Keane right on the tail of West German great Muller in the top-scoring list, which could very well be equalled - and indeed surpassed - should he find the net against Georgia in Dublin on Monday evening.

In fact, Keane now finds himself as the top active goalscorer on the planet, sitting some 18 goals ahead of England's Wayne Rooney who is level with Bobby Charlton on 49 for the Three Lions. Rooney does have time on his side to catch the prolific Irishman, of course, with 35-year-old Keane now heading into his twilight years.

Robbie Keane of Republic of Ireland celebrates after scoring Ireland's 3rd goal during the UEFA EURO 2016 Qualifier between Gibraltar and Republic of Ireland at Estadio Algarve on September 4, 2015 in Faro, Portugal.© Getty Images


4. Gerd Muller

Country: West Germany
Goals: 68
Caps: 62

While it has taken Keane 141 appearances to reach his landmark figure, Muller needed 79 caps fewer to carve his name into German folklore. Renowned for his ability to finish when through on goal, the Bayern Munich legend boasts a scoring rate bettered by just a couple of players in the top 25.

A World and European Cup double in the early 1970s helped to cement his place in history, while he was also named in the Team of the Tournament at Euro 72 after leading the way with four goals in all.

West German forward Gerd Muller (L) scores the second goal for his team despite the being pressured by Dutch defender Rudi Krol, 07 July 1974 in Munich, during the World Soccer Cup final. West Germany defeated the Netherlands 2-1.© Getty Images


3. Miroslav Klose

Country: Germany
Goals: 71
Caps: 137

Bowing out of international football on the back of an historic World Cup triumph is never a bad way to go - just ask Klose who, at the age of 36, called time on his Die Mannschaft career after scoring in a fourth finals last summer.

That is an achievement matched by just two others in the tournament's illustrious history, while his 16 goals overall is unrivalled by any other player both past and present. Two strikes in Brazil last year helped him surpass Ronaldo's tally, with compatriot Thomas Muller now the closest to stealing away that particular crown.

Miroslav Klose of Germany does a flip in celebration of scoring his team's second goal during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Group G match between Germany and Ghana at Castelao on June 21, 2014© Getty Images


2. Sandor Kocsis

Country: Hungary
Goals: 75
Caps: 68

In terms of post-World War records, goalscoring forwards do not come any more prolific than Hungary's Kocsis. The fully-fledged member of the Mighty Magyars top-scored in the 1954 World Cup as the famous side lost out to West Germany in the final.

Only Just Fontaine (13) has scored more goals than Kocsis in an individual World Cup, in fact, with the striker replicating his impressive form in front of goal at club level for Hungarian sides Ferencvaros, EDOSZ and Honved, while also hitting the same heights at Barcelona later in his career.

Portrait taken 27 October 1956 of forward Sandor Kocsis who played for Hungary's national soccer team. Kocsis and his teammates reached the World Cup final losing to Germany (2-3) 04 July 1954 in Bern (Switzerland). Kocsis finished the tournment with a re© Getty Images


1. Ferenc Puskas

Country: Hungary
Goals: 84
Caps: 89

Another prominent member of the Mighty Magyars, Puskas's achievements for both club and country see him marked out as one of the game's finest ever players. An inconceivable tally of 352 goals in 341 outings at Budapest Honved paved the way for a move to European giants Real Madrid, where he would go on to score another 156 goals across an eight-year spell.

Puskas spent the next quarter-century managing teams across the world, from San Francisco Golden Gate Gales through to the Hungary national team in 1993. The 'Galloping Major' lost his battle against pneumonia in 2006 at the age of 79, but his long-standing European scoring record looks likely to remain for many more years to come.

Ferenc Puskas poses in a Real Madrid strip on January 01, 1960.© Getty Images


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