Who is the best world cup goal scorer

Miraz · #1 May 30, 2006, 12:13 PM

Here is the profile of the top ten world cup goal scoer. Let's see whom do you think is the best among the lot.

1. Eusebio (1966 - 9 Goals)
Known as "The Black Pearl" or "The Black Panther", Eusebio scored nine goals in the 1966 World Cup for Portugal, earning him the Golden Boot. England was so taken with the striker, a waxwork model was commissioned for Madame Tussaud's immediately after the tournament.

2. Pele (1958, 1962, 1966, 1970 - 12 goals)
He punched the schoolfriend who gave him his nickname, but Edson Arantes do Nascimento doesn't quite have the same ring to it. What more can you say about the world's most famous footballer - four World Cups, three triumphs for Brazil, 12 goals. Genius.

3. Mario Kempes (1974, 1978, 1982 - 6 goals)
He looked like Brian May, but "El Matador" did not need to stand on top of Buckingham Palace with a guitar to get noticed. Kempes bagged six goals in the 1978 event, including two in the final against Holland to help Argentina lift the World Cup on home soil.

4. Gerd Muller (1970, 1974 - 14 goals)
It seems most World Cup strikers worth their salt need a nickname and 'Der Bomber' was no different. Best known for scoring the winner in the 1974 World Cup final, Muller made his name four years earlier, plundering 10 goals for West Germany in Mexico.

5.Paolo Rossi (1978, 1982 - 9 goals)
If Rossi's story was a movie script it would have been rejected for being too sensational. Italian striker banned for match-fixing, allowed to play in '82 World Cup after suspension relaxed, scores six goals after scratchy start and gets Golden Boot as Italy win World Cup. See, utter tosh.

6. Gary Lineker (1986, 1990 - 10 goals)
In most school playgrounds Gary Lineker would have been known as a "goal-hanger", as well as the kid who stole your crisps. The Everton striker grabbed the Golden Boot in 1986 with six goals, including a memorable hat-trick against Poland, and added another four as England reached the semi-finals in 1990.

7. Diego Maradona (1982, 1986, 1990, 1994 - 8 goals)
Not the most prolific striker on the list, but arguably the most talented. Vilified for his 'Hand of God' goal against England in '86, he scored a corker in the same game. Later turned into Mr Blobby but played in a recent pro-celeb match and celebrated a penalty against Jamie Theakston as if he'd won another World Cup.

8. Jurgen Klinsmann (1990, 1994, 1998 - 11 goals)
The VW Beetle enthusiast was perhaps known more for diving than driving, receiving a barrage of abuse at the 1994 competition for failing to stay on his feet. Aside from his theatrics, Klinsmann was a lethal finisher, helping Germany to glory in 1990.

9. Hristo Stoichkov (1994, 1998 - 6 goals)
Bulgaria's greatest export since the Wombles' Great Uncle, Stoichkov set the 1994 tournament alight as he led his country to an incredible fourth place finish. Never far from controversy, he was banned for six months while at Barcelona for charging at a referee. The fans loved him all the more for it.

10. Ronaldo (1994, 1998, 2002 - 12 goals)
He might look as if he's borrowed Eddie Murphy's 'fat suit', but when he's on his game, Ronaldo is arguably the finest striker on the planet. On course to break Gerd Muller's tournament record of 14 goals, Ronaldo hammered eight in 2002 alone, which went some way to redeeming his ridiculous haircut.

Courtesy : BBC