A former Ballon d'Or winner whose goals took Bulgaria to a World Cup semi-final has come under fire after posing for pictures with big game safari kills.

Hristo Stoichkov, who was the joint top scorer at the 1994 event in the USA, has been heavily criticised after he was photographed with rifle in hand, crouched beside the lifeless bodies of giraffes and zebras.

The 50-year-old was also pictured smiling next to dead antelopes in a series of images which appeared on the hunting organiser Mebenca in Afrika's website. Bulgarian media reported that Stoichkov was responsible for shooting the animals.

Hristo Stoichkov has been criticised after being pictured with rifle in hand alongside dead animals

Stoichkov was caught in images originally published on a South African hunting ranch's website

The Bulgarian, who scored 38 goals for his country, posed alongside dead giraffes, zebras and antelopes

Bulgarian media reported that the former Barcelona striker was responsible for shooting the animals

While the photos appear to have since been removed from www.mebencainafrika.org, they have still sparked a fierce reaction from animal rights activists.

Stella Reicheva, from the Bulgarian Animal Rescue organisation, said: 'I respect Hristo Stoichkov and admire him as a player.

'For us he is really a legend, he gave us many moments of happiness and pride. But what he has done in Africa, is sad, barbaric.'

Stoichkov, pictured with Johan Cruyff, was one of the world's best players during the early 1990s

The forward won the European Cup at Barcelona under Cruyff's guidance with final victory over Sampdoria

STOICHKOV: CAREER FACTFILE Clubs: Hebros Harmanli, CSKA Sofia, Barcelona, Parma, Al-Nassr, Kashiwa Reysol, Chicago Fire, DC United Games: 473 Goals: 243 International caps: 84 Goals: 38 Honours: La Liga (1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1998), European Cup (1992), Copa del Rey (1997), Cup Winners' Cup (1997), Asian Cup (1998), Bulgarian League (1987, 1989, 1990), Bulgarian Cup (1985, 1987, 1988, 1989), Ballon d'Or (1994) Advertisement

Menbeca in Africa claim to offer their customers 'hunting... in out 9,900 (hectare) Spanish ranch, and in our authorised 150,000 (hectare) of African savannah on the Limpopo river banks... and stay in luxury suites with 34 different animal species available to you'.

The company claims to operate its trophy kill safaris 'within the ethics of hunting'. It also advertises 'big five' safaris on licence, which include elephants, rhinos, buffalo, lions and leopards.

Stoichkov played 84 times for his country between 1986 and 1999, scoring a total of 38 goals.

He was part of the Bulgarian side which famously knocked Germany out of the 1994 World Cup at the quarter-final stage.

Stoichkov won 84 caps for his country and was the joint top-scorer at the 1994 World Cup in the USA

Stoichkov competes with Jamie Redknapp for possession during a Euro 2000 qualifying match

Domestically, he spent six years at CSKA Sofia before moving on to Barcelona in 1990. While at the Nou Camp, the striker won the Spanish title four times and claimed the European Cup in 1992.

He was twice runner-up in the World Player of the Year running and won the Ballon d'Or in 1994.

Stoichkov went into management after hanging up his boots in 2003, taking charge of the Bulgarian national side for a three-year spell.

He has since had short stints at Celta Vigo, Litex Lovech and CSKA Sofia.