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.

He fired in an angled shot after 16 minutes to equal the German’s record before adding a second with a low drive in the 25th minute to set the new mark.

Three-time World Player of the Year Messi’s attempt to break Mueller’s record looked set to falter after he was carried off on a stretcher during Barcelona’s Champions League group game draw with Benfica on Wednesday. Read more