Lionel Messi breaks Mueller's 40-year record for most goals in a year by scoring for 86th time
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Lionel Messi has broken German great Gerd Mueller's 40-year-old record for most goals in a year by scoring for the 86th time in 2012.
The Argentine forward scored twice Sunday, putting Barcelona ahead of Real Betis 2-0 by the 25th minute of the Spanish league match.
His first goal was an individual effort in the 16th minute to equal Mueller's record. He eclipsed the 1972 milestone with a familiar left-footed finish nine minutes later.
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Messi has 74 goals for Barcelona and 12 for Argentina this year. Mueller scored 85 for Bayern Munich and West Germany.
Messi scored 73 times for Barcelona in the 2011-12 season, passing Mueller's mark of 67 goals for Bayern Munich in 1972-73. He also established a Spanish league record of 50 goals last season.
Messi is a finalist for the FIFA's world player of the year award.