Lionel Messi of Barcelona sets new goal-scoring record

Barcelona's Lionel Messi has set the record for most goals in a calendar year by scoring his 86th goal of 2012.The 25-year-old Argentine overhauled Gerd Mueller's tally of 85 - set in 1972 - to set a new benchmark which includes goals for club and country.


Messi set the new record with two goals in a 2-1 win over Real Betis on Sunday. Messi is now favourite to claim a fourth Fifa world player of the year award after making the three-man shortlist which also includes Barcelona team-mate Andres Iniesta and Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo. 

 Messi is already Barcelona's all-time record goalscorer but was equal with Cesar Rodriguez on 192 at the top of the club's leading league scoring list before his goals against Betis moved him clear at the top of that as well. Congrats to him!