Barcelona forward Lionel Messi broke Gerd Muller's record of 85 goals in a calendar year as his brace helped Barcelona to victory at Real Betis.
The Argentina international grabbed the opener in the 16th minute with a trademark dribble and finish to move level with the German striker, who achieved the feat in 1972. He took over Muller's record tally with his second goal of the night in 86th minute, after playing one-two with Andres Iniesta, then let fly again with his legendary left foot, beating home goalkeeper Adrian for the second time.
Favourite to secure a fourth successive World Player award when the winner is announced next month, Messi has netted 74 times for Barca and 12 for Argentina in 2012, surpassing Mueller's total for Bayern Munich and Germany in 1972.
He has scored 56 in La Liga, 13 in the Champions League, three in the King's Cup and two in the Spanish Super Cup and still has two league matches and one King's Cup game to add to his tally before the end of the year.
Mueller, known as the "torpedo" while Messi's nickname is "the flea", netted 72 for Bayern and 13 for Germany in 1972 and was 27 when he set the record.
The pair have very different playing styles, with the left-footed Messi scoring many of his goals after trademark weaving runs, while Mueller was more of a poacher inside the box.
Asked about the World Player award, Messi said he would be happy for his Barca team mate Andres Iniesta to win, one of three nominated along with Messi and Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo who won it in 2008.
"Obviously if he (Iniesta) wins it's fully deserved for what he has achieved and what he is as a player, what he does every match," Messi told Canal Plus.
"If he wins it would also be a good thing, it's an award for the entire dressing room."
Favourite to secure a fourth successive World Player award when the winner is announced next month, Messi has netted 74 times for Barca and 12 for Argentina in 2012, surpassing Mueller's total for Bayern Munich and Germany in 1972.
He has scored 56 in La Liga, 13 in the Champions League, three in the King's Cup and two in the Spanish Super Cup and still has two league matches and one King's Cup game to add to his tally before the end of the year.
Mueller, known as the "torpedo" while Messi's nickname is "the flea", netted 72 for Bayern and 13 for Germany in 1972 and was 27 when he set the record.
The pair have very different playing styles, with the left-footed Messi scoring many of his goals after trademark weaving runs, while Mueller was more of a poacher inside the box.
Asked about the World Player award, Messi said he would be happy for his Barca team mate Andres Iniesta to win, one of three nominated along with Messi and Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo who won it in 2008.
"Obviously if he (Iniesta) wins it's fully deserved for what he has achieved and what he is as a player, what he does every match," Messi told Canal Plus.
"If he wins it would also be a good thing, it's an award for the entire dressing room."
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