Lionel Messi Breaks Record For Total Goals Scored In Calendar Year

Messi has beaten Gerd Mueller's 40-year-old record of 85 goals in a calendar year.

by Joseph Dempsey

stretchered off during Barca's 0-0 draw with Benfica in the Champions League last week with a knee injury, still a goal behind the Legendary German. Yet Messi still has two league matches and one King's Cup Tie of 2012, with the opportunity to add further to his tally. Messi told Spanish TV station Canal Plus afterwards:

"I always say the same, it's nice for what it means but the victory is more important as it maintains our lead over the other teams. "My goal when the year began was to try to achieve everything again, with the team, in the league, the (King's) Cup, the Champions League. I always start with that idea in mind."
Messi has won five La Ligas, two Copas del Rey, five Supercopas de España, three Champions Leagues, two Super Cups and two Club World Cups so far in a glittering career. Earlier this year, he made UEFA Champions League history by becoming the first player to score five goals in one match. Messi's 86 goals have come in La Liga (56), in the Champions League (13), in the King's Cup (3) and in the Spanish Super Cup (2). He has bagged a further 12 for Argentina. Worryingly, Mueller was 27 when he set his record. Messi is just 25.

Contributor
Contributor

Joseph is an accredited football journalist and has interviewed nearly all of the current 20 Barclay's Premier League managers. He is also a correspondent for Bleacher Report and has written for Caught Offside and Give Me Football.