• Miroslav Klose has scored more World Cup goals than any other international player

• The Germany legend ended his career with 16 goals in 24 World Cup appearances, one clear of Brazil hero Ronaldo

• 1986 Golden Boot winner Gary Lineker has the most World Cup goals (10) for England

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Representing your country at the World Cup is one of the greatest achievements in football, eclipsed only by scoring at the tournament.

Only the best of the best are able to make it in international football – many all-time greats have awed at club level but failed to shine on the biggest stage of all.

Miroslav Klose was not one of those players. In fact, the Germany striker seemed to save his best form for the World Cup stage and he was a fan favourite in sports betting odds.

Klose was a key figure for Germany during their golden era, scoring in four consecutive FIFA World Cup tournaments between 2002 and 2014.

Readers who bet on football will know most, if not all, of the names on this list. From the likes of Gabriel Batistuta to the legendary Pele, here are some of the deadliest strikers in World Cup history.

Most FIFA World Cup Goals

Germany legend Miroslav Klose wrote his name into the history books at the 2014 World Cup as he surpassed Ronaldo’s tally of 15 goals at the tournament.

One of the most prolific strikers in German football history, Klose notched 71 goals in 137 international appearances and his strike in the 2014 World Cup semi-final will live long in the memory.

Klose broke Ronaldo’s record to put Germany 2-0 up against Brazil in Rio de Janeiro and the Germans went on to win 7-1 – taking the limelight from Klose’s record breaking day.

Some of the greatest players of all-time feature on this list – with most of them lifting the World Cup trophy at some stage in their career.

Without further ado, let’s look at the 13 players to score 10 or more goals at the FIFA World Cup finals.

• Miroslav Klose – 14 goals in 24 World Cup games

• Ronaldo – 15 goals in 19 World Cup games

• Gerd Muller – 14 goals in 13 World Cup games

• Just Fontaine – 13 goals in 6 World Cup games

• Pele – 12 goals in 14 World Cup games

• Sandor Kocsis – 11 goals in 5 World Cup games

• Jurgen Klinsmann – 11 goals in 17 World Cup games

• Helmut Rahn – 10 goals in 10 World Cup games

• Gary Lineker – 10 goals in 12 World Cup games

• Gabriel Batistuta – 10 goals in 12 World Cup games

• Teofilo Cubilas – 10 goals in 13 World Cup games

• Thomas Muller – 10 goals in 16 World Cup games

• Grzegorz Lato – 10 goals in 20 World Cup games

FIFA World Cup Golden Boot Winners

The Golden Boot is awarded to the top goal scorer at every FIFA World Cup and it is one of the most prestigious accolades in international football.

Won by Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane at the 2018 tournament in Russia, claiming the FIFA Golden Boot award is an incredible achievement.

In 21 editions of the competition, the Golden Boot has been shared on just two occasions; firstly between six players in 1962 before Oleg Salenko and Hristo Stoichkov tied for top scorer at the 1994 World Cup. 

Most Goals In World Cup Final Matches

Incredibly, four players have scored three goals in World Cup final fixtures – though Geoff Hurst is the only male footballer to defy betting odds by scoring a hat-trick in the showpiece.

Brazil duo Vava and Pele also managed three across two World Cup finals while Zinedine Zidane emulated the Brazilian duo in 1998 and 2006.

Vava scored in consecutive World Cup finals in 1958 and 1962; a feat matched only by the great Ronaldo in 1998 and 2002.

The Brazil legend is one of six players with two World Cup final match goals, with Gino Colaussi, Silvio Piola, Helmut Rahn, Mario Kempes, Paul Breitner also notching a couple of World Cup final goals.

Most Goals At A Single FIFA World Cup

Just Fontaine’s record of 13 goals at a single World Cup may never be broken, with the France legend running riot at the 1958 tournament in Sweden.

By the end of France’s three group stage fixtures with Paraguay, Yugoslavia and Scotland, Fontaine was already sitting on six goals – a tally that would have been enough to win the Golden Boot outright at four World Cup finals.

He added a brace in the quarter-final win over Northern Ireland before scoring in the semi-final defeat to eventual winners Brazil.

In the third placed playoff, Fontaine was unstoppable as he scored four goals in the 6-2 defeat of West Germany to cement his status as a FIFA World Cup legend.

Unfortunately, Fontaine was forced to retire due to injury issues but his legacy as one of the greatest World Cup strikers of all-time will live on forever.

Fontaine finished his international career with 30 goals in 21 appearances for Les Bleus and his French jersey is especially popular amongst retro football shirts collectors.

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*Credit for the main photo belongs to Francois Xavier Marit, Pool / AP Photo*

 

FIRST PUBLISHED: 31st August 2021

• Aston Villa and Liverpool are two of England’s biggest football clubs

• Villa are one of only five English teams to win the European Cup

• Meanwhile, Liverpool have won over 60 major honours and the Reds ended their Premier League drought in 2019/20

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While Aston Villa have slipped down the pecking order over the past couple of decades, the Villains are one of English football’s biggest clubs when you look back through history.

With seven top flight titles, seven FA Cup triumphs and a European Cup in the Villa Park trophy cabinet, the club hold their own against the likes of Chelsea and Arsenal.

However, Liverpool are on another level. The Reds, often favoured in sports betting odds, are one of the most celebrated clubs in world football and are blessed with a talented squad.

Jurgen Klopp brought the Premier League trophy to Anfield for the first time in 2020, though Liverpool slumped to an embarrassing 7-2 defeat to Aston Villa just four months later.

Here, we look at Aston Villa vs Liverpool statistics and match results – with the two teams facing each other nearly 200 times in all competitions. So, let’s get down to business…

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*Credit for the main photo belongs to Clive Brunskill / Pool via AP*

 

FIRST PUBLISHED: 31st August 2021

• Afghanistan clobbered the highest team T20 score of all-time against Ireland in 2019

• There have been 18 T20 innings where a team has scored 250 or more

• Read below for a comprehensive list of the highest T20 scores of all-time

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The shortest format of the sport is the hardest to nail in cricket betting tips. One over can swing a match on its head in T20, which is part of the appeal of Test cricket’s brash younger brother.

That doesn’t stop millions surveying the T20 cricket odds throughout the year.

It’s a format where strategy has developed at a remarkable rate, and which has enabled players to ascend from unknown status to become some of the sport’s most famous faces.

The highest T20 scores of all-time are varied in competition and importance.

Some were overseen by the top cricket commentators, others were in front of a minimal crowd, and only reached worldwide prominence once the score broke records. Here are the 10 biggest innings in T20 history.

Mumbai 258-4 vs Sikkim

Playing in the Syed Mushtaq Ali trophy in February 2019, Mumbai amassed almost 260 runs against Sikkim.

Completely overmatched from start to finish, Sikkim were put to the sword by T20 phenom Shreyas Iyer as he clobbered 147 off just 55 balls.

Chasing a mammoth total, Sikkim headed for one of the biggest T20 defeats of all-time. They replied with just 104-7.

India 260-5 vs Sri Lanka

Many of India’s big T20 innings follow a familiar pattern. Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul have played a pivotal part more often than not, and that was the case here.

They put on 165 for the first wicket in less than 13 overs. Rohit was at his devastating best, hitting 10 sixes as he reached 118 off just 43 balls.

Kusal Perera put up a fight in the chase, but Sri Lanka didn’t get close.

Yorkshire 260-4 vs Northants

This was all about Adam Lyth. Tom Kohler-Cadmore and David Willey combined for 81 off 46, but Lyth was the destructive force for the Northants bowlers.

The former England international scored 161 off 73 balls. He was only dismissed with two balls left in the innings.

Ben Sanderson took particular punishment, conceding 77 off his four overs.

Sri Lanka 260-6 vs Kenya

This was the world record for almost six years. Set in the 2007 World Cup, a star-studded Sri Lanka line-up hammered the Kenyan attack all around The Wanderers.

Sanath Jayasuriya and Mahela Jayawardene were the stand outs. The opener notched 88 off 44 before Jayawardene stepped up with 65 off 27 deliveries.

North West 262-4 vs Limpopo

It takes multiple contributions to reach such a mammoth score. North West got just that when they faced Limpopo in the 2018 Africa T20.

Wihan Lubbe needed just 36 balls for his 102, and his effort was ably supported by Nicky van der Bergh scoring 74 off 38.

Australia 263-3 vs Sri Lanka

Sending Glenn Maxwell out to open is risky business. If it backfires, it can leave the middle order looking light.

At Pallekele in 2016, it worked out for the Aussies. Maxwell recorded one of the highest individual T20 scores of all-time with 145 off 65 balls.

No other batsman passed 50, though David Warner, Usman Khawaja and Travis Head all scored at a healthy rate.

RCB 263-5 vs Warriors

Although often disappointing throughout the competition as a whole, Royal Challengers Bangalore are the owners of the highest IPL score.

The top four of Chris Gayle, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers didn’t bring much team success. On paper, though, it’s one of the best T20 batting line-ups of all-time.

It was a one-man show when they smashed the Pune Warriors for 263, however, with Gayle breaking numerous records in his 175.

De Villiers was the only other of his fellow stars to stand out – the South African put the cherry on top with 31 off 8 at the death.

T&T Riders 267-2 vs Tallawahs

Lendl Simmons teed off. Colin Munro then took centre stage for the T&T Riders, finishing not out with 96 off 50 balls.

Munro’s striking was supplemented by some trademark heavy-hitting from Kieron Pollard, who reached 45 off just 17 balls.

The Tallawahs put up a good fight in reply. They got into the 220s, but obviously still fell way short of the target.

Czech Republic 278-4 vs Turkey

Two nations rarely heard of in the cricket section of sports betting, this is one of the most one-sided T20s in history.

Playing in the Continental Cup, the Czechs didn’t only score 278, they then bowled Turkey out for a just 21 runs. It’s the biggest margin of victory of all-time, and by a considerable distance at that.

Afghanistan 278-3 vs Ireland

It was an eye-opening day for the Ireland bowlers on 23rd February 2019. Afghanistan opener Hazratullah Zazai flew out the blocks and he never slowed down.

Finishing not out with 162 off 62 balls, Zazai hit 16 sixes (only three innings have seen a batsman hit more).

He was helped out by 73 from Usman Ghani, and Mohammad Nabi poured salt on the wounds with 17 off 5 late in the innings.

Ireland reached 194 in their chase thanks to a quick start from Paul Stirling, but the defeat ultimately handed Afghanistan the series win.

Highest T20 Scores FAQs:

What is the highest scoring T20 match of all-time?

Otago versus Central Districts on 21st December 2016 is the highest scoring T20 match of all-time. There were 497 runs scored in the 40 overs, with Otago setting Central Districts 250 to win the match.

Hamish Rutherford starred for Otago with an impressive 100, including eight sixes. Central Districts, led by a majestic 116 from Mahela Jayawardene, put in an incredible effort in the chase.

Despite the efforts of Jayawardene and Tom Bruce, Central Districts fell just short, losing by one run.

What is India’s highest score in T20?

India’s highest T20 score was 260 for 5 against Sri Lanka in December 2017.

They have recorded three team scores of 240 or more, the first of which coming when they registered 244 for the loss of just four wickets against the West Indies in 2016.

They remarkably lost the game when they scored 244, as they had been set 246 to win by the Windies.

Big hitting from Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul has been a feature in all of India’s 240+ T20 scores. Rohit smashed a 43-ball 118 in their 260 against Sri Lanka.

Which batsman has recorded the highest T20 score?

Chris Gayle has the highest T20 score with a mammoth 175 not out for Royal Challengers Bangalore against Pune Warriors in 2013. The West Indian power hitter is also the all-time leader in T20 runs scored.

He has 22 T20 centuries to his name, which is well over double as many as anyone else.

His 175 was also the fastest 100 of all-time, and playing for the Melbourne Renegades three years later, he equalled the record for the fastest T20 50.

Gayle hit 17 sixes in his 175 not out. Once again, though, this isn’t even the record. Gayle, of course, broke his own record in December 2017 when he smashed 18 sixes against the Dhaka Dynamites.

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*Credit for the main photo belongs to Frank Augstein / AP Photo*