#3 Gerd Muller (Bayern Munich / West Germany)
![1974 World Cup Final. Munich, West Germany. 7th July, 1974. West Germany 2 v Holland 1. West Germany's Gerd Muller, scorer of the winning goal, waves to the crowd as the team parade the trophy on a lap of honour after the match.](https://statico.sportskeeda.com/editor/2018/07/5e233-1531734993-800.jpg?w=190 190w, https://statico.sportskeeda.com/editor/2018/07/5e233-1531734993-800.jpg?w=720 720w, https://statico.sportskeeda.com/editor/2018/07/5e233-1531734993-800.jpg?w=640 640w, https://statico.sportskeeda.com/editor/2018/07/5e233-1531734993-800.jpg?w=1045 1045w, https://statico.sportskeeda.com/editor/2018/07/5e233-1531734993-800.jpg?w=1200 1200w, https://statico.sportskeeda.com/editor/2018/07/5e233-1531734993-800.jpg?w=1460 1460w, https://statico.sportskeeda.com/editor/2018/07/5e233-1531734993-800.jpg?w=1600 1600w, https://statico.sportskeeda.com/editor/2018/07/5e233-1531734993-800.jpg 1920w)
In the 1970s, few players could play on the same level as Gerd Muller of Bayern Munich and West Germany. A Ballon d'Or winner in 1970, Muller has scored 721 goals in his career. Four of these goals came in finals of the Champions League and the World Cup.
For the Germans, it was his goal in the 1974 World Cup final that saw them beat Netherlands 2-1. The Dutch had taken a very early lead - in the second minute - when Johan Neeskens scored from the spot but Paul Breitner returned the favour from a penalty of their own.
At 1-1, West Germany battled hard for a second goal and it was Muller who scored in the 43rd minute - his last ever goal for the national team after he retired from international football.
For Bayern Munich, Muller scored twice in the second half of the 1974 final replay to beat Atletico Madrid 4-0 while he also doubled the lead in 1975 to beat Leeds United 2-0.
The forward did play in the 1976 final when Bayern won their third consecutive European title but Muller did not get on the scoresheet in that 1-0 win over Saint-Etienne.