West Germany became the first nation to reach 100 goals in the FIFA World Cup tournament, achieving the milestone in just eight qualifying campaigns, FIFA reported on Tuesday.
The accomplishment, noted by the international governing body for association football, underscores the prolific scoring record of the German national team throughout its World Cup history. Brazil reached the same benchmark in nine campaigns, even as Argentina required twelve.
Much of West Germany’s success can be attributed to the goal-scoring prowess of Gerd Müller, nicknamed “Der Bomber der Nation” or simply “Der Bomber.” Müller, who played for West Germany from 1966 to 1974, scored 68 goals in 62 international appearances. He remains one of the most celebrated strikers in football history.
Müller’s impact extended beyond sheer volume. At the 1970 FIFA World Cup in Mexico, he scored ten goals, earning the Golden Boot as the tournament’s top goalscorer. He was also named European Footballer of the Year in 1970, and later received the Ballon d’Or.
At the club level, Müller enjoyed a remarkably successful 15-year career with Bayern Munich, where he scored a record 365 goals in 427 Bundesliga matches. He also scored 65 goals in 74 European club games. In total, Müller scored 487 goals in 555 club matches, playing briefly for Fort Lauderdale Strikers towards the end of his career.
Müller was part of the West Germany team that won the 1974 FIFA World Cup, scoring the winning goal in the final match. He also helped West Germany win the UEFA European Championship in 1972, again finishing as the tournament’s top scorer.
The International Federation of Football History & Statistics (IFFHS) ranked Müller ninth in the European player of the Century election in 1999 and 13th in the World Player of the Century election. In 2004, Pelé included Müller in his list of the world’s greatest living players, the FIFA 100.
Gerd Müller died on August 15, 2021, at the age of 75. His legacy as one of the greatest goalscorers in football history continues to be celebrated.
