Lionel Messi has established a clear justification as to why he is favoured to claim his 4th consecutive FIFA Balon d’Or (World’s best player) in January after eclipsing the calender year goalscoring record with a double against Real Betis over the weekend. Messi’s stellar year has seen him net 86 goals, 74 for Barcelona and 12 for Argentina in 66 games, breaking Bayern Munich and West German star Gerd Muller’s 40 year record.
Messi has now claimed doubles in his last 5 matches and is tipped to extend the record further in the final two games of the year.
In a tip of the hat to the marketing division of Turkish Airlines, their two marquee brand ambassadors, Kobe Bryant and Messi have both achieved major goal scoring milestones within the same week after Bryant became the youngest player to hit 30000 career NBA points. Way to pick your talent.
Messi’s 86 goals in full and uninterrupted.
Picture by David Ramos/Getty Images
