Monday 10 December 2012 22:11, UK
Lionel Messi played down his achievement after creating a piece of history by surpassing Gerd Muller's record of 85 goals in a calendar year.
The Argentina international's goals also sent him clear of Cesar Rodriguez as Barcelona's all-time leading league goalscorer after they had been level on 192 before the match. Messi has scored 56 of his 86 goals in the Primera Division. He has also score 12 times for his national team including a stunning hat-trick in a 4-3 win over Brazil in June. His remarkable feat has unsurprisingly made Messi the favourite to be crowned world footballer of the year for a fourth successive year. He was last month named on a three-man shortlist for the Ballon d'Or alongside team-mate Iniesta and Cristiano Ronaldo. "If Iniesta wins it will be fully deserved and I would be delighted," Messi said. "It's a title for the whole team." The winner is due to be announced on January 7.
