As the 2026 FIFA World Cup approaching, here’s a look at the five highest goal scorers in the history of the tournament.

As the 2026 FIFA World Cup approaching, here’s a look at the five highest goal scorers in the history of the tournament.

Meet top 5 goal scorers in FIFA World Cup history

From setting records to battling personal demons: Life of German legend Gerd Muller

Bayern Munich's legendary striker Gerd Muller has died at the age of 75, the club said on Sunday.&nbsp;

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"Today is a sad, black day for FC Bayern and all of its fans. Gerd Muller was the greatest striker there has ever been -- and a fine person, a personality in world football," Bayern president Herbert Hainer said in a statement.

"We are united in deep sorrow with his wife Uschi and his family. Without Gerd Müller, FC Bayern would not be the club we all love today. His name and the memory of him will live on forever."&nbsp;

Muller was an absolute legend in&nbsp;the game. He had scored 68 goals in 62 appearances for West Germany. The German footballer played a crucial role in the 1975 World Cup as he scored the winning goal in the finals against the Netherlands.&nbsp;

The footballer scored a record 365 goals in 427 Bundesliga games and 66 goals in 74 European matches during his 15 years at Bayern.

In 2015, Muller was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease shortly before his 70th birthday. The legendary striker is survived by wife Uschi and daughter Nicole.

Bayern Munich's legendary striker Gerd Muller has died at the age of 75, the club said on Sunday. ALSO READ: Football: Pep Guardiola defends Manchester City's big spending in transfer market "Today is a sad, black day for FC Bayern and all of its fans.

Bayern Munich's legendary striker Gerd Muller has died at the age of 75, the club said on Sunday. ALSO READ: Football: Pep Guardiola defends Manchester City's big spending in transfer market "Today is a sad, black day for FC Bayern and all of its fans. Gerd Muller was the greatest striker there has ever been -- and a fine person, a personality in world football," Bayern president Herbert Hainer said in a statement. "We are united in deep sorrow with his wife Uschi and his family. Without Gerd Müller, FC Bayern would not be the club we all love today. His name and the memory of him will live on forever." Muller was an absolute legend in the game. He had scored 68 goals in 62 appearances for West Germany. The German footballer played a crucial role in the 1975 World Cup as he scored the winning goal in the finals against the Netherlands. The footballer scored a record 365 goals in 427 Bundesliga games and 66 goals in 74 European matches during his 15 years at Bayern. In 2015, Muller was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease shortly before his 70th birthday. The legendary striker is survived by wife Uschi and daughter Nicole.

Football - Bayern Munich legend Gerd Muller passes away at 75

Bayern Munich star Robert Lewandowski shattered a 49-year-old record in Bundesliga after scoring the 41st goal of the season in the last minute of their last match, a 5-2 win over Augsburg.

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The Bundesliga goal-scoring record for a single season was previously held by German legend Gerd Mueller, who scored 40 goals in the 1971/72 season. The Polish striker is also chasing another record held by Mueller. Lewandowski is in the second position on the all-time scorer's list in the Bundesliga with 277 goals. Gerd Mueller is on top with 365 goals.&nbsp;

Lewandowski was looking to miss out on the long-standing record after missing some clear chances in the match, however, the Polish striker fired in the very last minute to steal the show for champions Bayern Munich.&nbsp;

Robert Lewandowski managed to net 41 goals in a Bundesliga season despite being on the sidelines for a few weeks due to injury.&nbsp;

At the other end of the table, former Bundesliga champions Werder Bremen were relegated for the first time since 1980 following their 4-2 defeat to Borussia Moenchengladbach, along with already-relegated Schalke 04.

"We tried to turn it around but it did not work," said coach Thomas Schaaf, a former Bremen player and longtime coach, who was brought back for the final game of the season.

"It is hard for me to talk at the moment. The players are sitting in the changing room. Silence."

Cologne will go into the relegation playoffs after scoring an 86th-minute winner over Schalke while Union Berlin will play in the new Europa Conference League after finishing seventh thanks to Max Kruse's dramatic stoppage-time winner against RB Leipzig.

(Inputs from Reuters)

Bayern Munich star Robert Lewandowski shattered a 49-year-old record in Bundesliga after scoring the 41st goal of the season in the last minute of their last match, a 5-2 win over Augsburg.

Bayern Munich star Robert Lewandowski shattered a 49-year-old record in Bundesliga after scoring the 41st goal of the season in the last minute of their last match, a 5-2 win over Augsburg. ALSO READ: Football: Atletico Madrid clinch La Liga title thanks to Suarez winner The Bundesliga goal-scoring record for a single season was previously held by German legend Gerd Mueller, who scored 40 goals in the 1971/72 season. The Polish striker is also chasing another record held by Mueller. Lewandowski is in the second position on the all-time scorer's list in the Bundesliga with 277 goals. Gerd Mueller is on top with 365 goals. Lewandowski was looking to miss out on the long-standing record after missing some clear chances in the match, however, the Polish striker fired in the very last minute to steal the show for champions Bayern Munich. Robert Lewandowski managed to net 41 goals in a Bundesliga season despite being on the sidelines for a few weeks due to injury. At the other end of the table, former Bundesliga champions Werder Bremen were relegated for the first time since 1980 following their 4-2 defeat to Borussia Moenchengladbach, along with already-relegated Schalke 04. "We tried to turn it around but it did not work," said coach Thomas Schaaf, a former Bremen player and longtime coach, who was brought back for the final game of the season. "It is hard for me to talk at the moment. The players are sitting in the changing room. Silence." Cologne will go into the relegation playoffs after scoring an 86th-minute winner over Schalke while Union Berlin will play in the new Europa Conference League after finishing seventh thanks to Max Kruse's dramatic stoppage-time winner against RB Leipzig. (Inputs from Reuters)

Football: Robert Lewandowski shatters 49-year-old record in Bundesliga

Robert Lewandowski can break Gerd Mueller's 49-year-old Bundesliga single-season goal record this weekend when champions Bayern Munich play in front of their home fans for the first time since March 2020.

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The Poland striker's penalty in Bayern's 2-2 draw at Freiburg last time out saw him equal Mueller's record of 40 goals in a single Bundesliga campaign, set in 1971/72.

With one game left Lewandowski, the Bundesliga's top scorer in six of the last eight years, can set a new record against Augsburg on Saturday.

"I guess he'll score two goals at the weekend and break the record," predicts former Bayer Leverkusen striker Ulf Kirsten, 55, a three-time Bundesliga top scorer in the 1990s.

"Nevertheless, I hope things stay as they are, because Gerd Mueller was my idol."

With a ninth straight league title already confirmed, Bayern will lift the Bundesliga trophy after the final whistle.

There will also be a farewell for last season's treble-winning coach Hansi Flick, hotly tipped to take charge of Germany after Euro 2020.

Likewise, defenders Jerome Boateng and David Alaba, whose contracts have not been renewed, will play their last game after more than a decade with Bayern.

Alaba is expected to join Real Madrid and leaves with a joint-record of 10 Bundesliga titles under his belt, while Boateng, 32, needs a new club.

For the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic hit Germany 14 months ago, fans will return to the Allianz Arena with just 250 allowed into the 75,000-capacity stadium.

Health workers will get 100 tickets with the rest shared between supporters and staff.

With infection rates dropping across Germany, other Bundesliga clubs can also welcome back small numbers of fans.

Union Berlin, on the verge of qualifying for the new Europa Conference League, will allow 2,000 spectators for Saturday's home game against RB Leipzig, who are already confirmed as runners-up.

The top four places are decided with Bayern, Leipzig, Dortmund and Wolfsburg assured of Champions League football next season.

However, things are tight at the other end of the table with two points separating Cologne, Werder Bremen and Arminia Bielefeld, the three clubs fighting to stay up above Schalke, who are bottom of the league and already relegated.

To stand a chance of avoiding automatic relegation, second-from-bottom Cologne must beat Schalke.

Bremen, who sacked head coach Florian Kohfeldt last Sunday, are 16th, which carries a relegation play-off next week against the club who finish third in the second division.

Bremen played the two-legged play-off for last year, squeezing past second-tier side Heidenheim on away goals.

Bielefeld are 15th, but they must win at Stuttgart to be sure of not getting dragged into the bottom three.

<h2>One to watch: Erling Braut Haaland</h2>

The towering Norway striker can bag his 40th goal in all competitions this season for Dortmund at home to Bayer Leverkusen.

The hosts are on a roll, winning their previous six league games to qualify for the Champions League as well as thumping Leipzig 4-1 in the German Cup final.

Dortmund winger Jadon Sancho, who has bagged four goals and two assists in three games, will be looking to press his claim for a place in England's Euro 2020 squad.

<h2>Key stats</h2>

430: Appearances David Alaba has made for Bayern Munich over the last 11 years, having come through the club's academy.

28: Number of Bundesliga games Lewandowski has needed to score 40 goals this season, while Gerd Mueller achieved the same tally over 34 matches.

7: Trophies Flick has won during 18 months at Bayern Munich, losing just eight of his 85 matches in charge, with 69 wins.

&nbsp;

Fixtures (all 1330 GMT)

Saturday

Bayern Munich v Augsburg, Borussia Dortmund v Bayer Leverkusen, Hoffenheim v Hertha Berlin, VfL Wolfsburg v Mainz 05, Eintracht Frankfurt v Freiburg, Union Berlin v RB Leipzig, Cologne v Schalke 04, Werder Bremen v Borussia Moenchengladbach, VfB Stuttgart v Arminia Bielefeld

Robert Lewandowski can break Gerd Mueller's 49-year-old Bundesliga single-season goal record this weekend when champions Bayern Munich play in front of their home fans for the first time since March 2020.

Robert Lewandowski can break Gerd Mueller's 49-year-old Bundesliga single-season goal record this weekend when champions Bayern Munich play in front of their home fans for the first time since March 2020. ALSO READ: Football: Steven Gerrard, David Beckham complete Premier League Hall of Fame 2021 inductees list The Poland striker's penalty in Bayern's 2-2 draw at Freiburg last time out saw him equal Mueller's record of 40 goals in a single Bundesliga campaign, set in 1971/72. With one game left Lewandowski, the Bundesliga's top scorer in six of the last eight years, can set a new record against Augsburg on Saturday. "I guess he'll score two goals at the weekend and break the record," predicts former Bayer Leverkusen striker Ulf Kirsten, 55, a three-time Bundesliga top scorer in the 1990s. "Nevertheless, I hope things stay as they are, because Gerd Mueller was my idol." With a ninth straight league title already confirmed, Bayern will lift the Bundesliga trophy after the final whistle. There will also be a farewell for last season's treble-winning coach Hansi Flick, hotly tipped to take charge of Germany after Euro 2020. Likewise, defenders Jerome Boateng and David Alaba, whose contracts have not been renewed, will play their last game after more than a decade with Bayern. Alaba is expected to join Real Madrid and leaves with a joint-record of 10 Bundesliga titles under his belt, while Boateng, 32, needs a new club. For the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic hit Germany 14 months ago, fans will return to the Allianz Arena with just 250 allowed into the 75,000-capacity stadium. Health workers will get 100 tickets with the rest shared between supporters and staff. With infection rates dropping across Germany, other Bundesliga clubs can also welcome back small numbers of fans. Union Berlin, on the verge of qualifying for the new Europa Conference League, will allow 2,000 spectators for Saturday's home game against RB Leipzig, who are already confirmed as runners-up. The top four places are decided with Bayern, Leipzig, Dortmund and Wolfsburg assured of Champions League football next season. However, things are tight at the other end of the table with two points separating Cologne, Werder Bremen and Arminia Bielefeld, the three clubs fighting to stay up above Schalke, who are bottom of the league and already relegated. To stand a chance of avoiding automatic relegation, second-from-bottom Cologne must beat Schalke. Bremen, who sacked head coach Florian Kohfeldt last Sunday, are 16th, which carries a relegation play-off next week against the club who finish third in the second division. Bremen played the two-legged play-off for last year, squeezing past second-tier side Heidenheim on away goals. Bielefeld are 15th, but they must win at Stuttgart to be sure of not getting dragged into the bottom three. One to watch: Erling Braut Haaland The towering Norway striker can bag his 40th goal in all competitions this season for Dortmund at home to Bayer Leverkusen. The hosts are on a roll, winning their previous six league games to qualify for the Champions League as well as thumping Leipzig 4-1 in the German Cup final. Dortmund winger Jadon Sancho, who has bagged four goals and two assists in three games, will be looking to press his claim for a place in England's Euro 2020 squad. Key stats 430: Appearances David Alaba has made for Bayern Munich over the last 11 years, having come through the club's academy. 28: Number of Bundesliga games Lewandowski has needed to score 40 goals this season, while Gerd Mueller achieved the same tally over 34 matches. 7: Trophies Flick has won during 18 months at Bayern Munich, losing just eight of his 85 matches in charge, with 69 wins. Fixtures (all 1330 GMT) Saturday Bayern Munich v Augsburg, Borussia Dortmund v Bayer Leverkusen, Hoffenheim v Hertha Berlin, VfL Wolfsburg v Mainz 05, Eintracht Frankfurt v Freiburg, Union Berlin v RB Leipzig, Cologne v Schalke 04, Werder Bremen v Borussia Moenchengladbach, VfB Stuttgart v Arminia Bielefeld

Football: Lewandowski poised to make Bundesliga history as Bayern welcome back fans

Lionel Messi, Gerd Müller, Pele: Players with most goals scored for one club

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