Leo Messi breaks Müller's longstanding record of 67 goals scored in one season

The Argentine genius, with a hat-trick this Wednesday against Málaga, broke Gerhard Müller’s historic record of 67 goals scored in one season.

Messi has scored 46 in La Lige, 14 in the Champions League, 3 in the Spanish Super Cup, 2 in the King’s Cup, 2 in the Club World Cup and 1 in the European Super Cup.

Müller scored 67 goals: 26 in the League, 7 in the Cup, 12 in the League Cup and 12 in the European Cup.

Messi is the 'Torpedo' of the 21st century. The Argentine genius broke Gerhard Müller's record of 67 goals scored in a single season set in the 1972/73 season. In 1973, the German striker netted 67 goals for Bayern Munich in four different competitions: 26 in the League, 7 in the Cup, 12 in the League Cup and 12 in the European Cup. The ‘Torpedo’ Müller averaged 1.37 goals per game that season (49 matches).

39 seasons later, Messi scored 68 goals in 57 matches (1.19 goals per game). The Argentine has scored in every competition that FC Barcelona has contested this season: 46 in La Lige, 14 in the Champions League, 3 in the Spanish Super Cup, 2 in the King’s Cup, 2 in the Club World Cup and 1 in the European Super Cup.

Messi has the chance to increase his goal-scoring tally as FC Barcelona have three more matches to play (Espanyol, Betis and Athletic Club) before the end of the season. (via FCBarcelona.com)

Barça, Guardiola, Messi and Xavi, awarded by the IFFHS

The World gala awards ceremony will be held on Monday the 7 in Barcelona with the presence of most of the winners.

Lionell Messi (international top goalscorer), Iker Casillas (best goalkeeper), Xavi (best player), Pep Guardiola (best coach) and Barcelona (best club) will be the main winners of the gala of the International Federation of Football History & Statistics (IFFHS).

The World gala awards ceremony will be held next Monday in July in Barcelona with the presence of most of the winners at a ceremony to be chaired Mohammad Al Qassemi, new president of the IFFHS since November 2011.

Award also highlights the league championship first division in Spain as Liga strongest in the world, ahead of the Premier League.

Uruguay also will be awarded the Óscar Tabarez for best national coach, Hungarian Viktor Kassai as best referee and Latvian Trans Narva in his country, Alexsandrs Cekulajevs, top scorer in a league championship.

This last award is different from Messi, who is rewarded for his goals with the Argentina national team and international goals for his club.

They will receive a gold trophy while the runners in each category will receive silver. There will also be prizes for the best in the first decade of XXI century in each category and for the most popular players last year.

The runners-up in 2011 are Vicente del Bosque (coach), Manuel Neuer, Bayern Munich (goalkeeper), Leo Messi (best player), Colombian Radamel Falcao, his goals in the national team, Porto and Atlético Madrid and the Portuguese José Mourinho (coach).

The second top goalscorer in Liga is Cristiano Ronaldo in the Spanish first division, second best club is Real Madrid, the second best league is the English and the second best referee in English Howard Webb, one year before, in 2010 , refereed the World Cup final South Africa won Spain.

Of the eighteen awards, nine and nine seconds, seven are for Spanish. Del Bosque, Casillas, Xavi and Guardiola receive it at the individual and these are added the awards for Barcelona, Real Madrid and la Liga First Division.

The awards for the best in the decade 2001-2010 are for Markus Merk (best referee), Arsen Wenger (coach), Gianluigi Buffon (goalkeeper), Ruud van Nistelrooy (scorer in international matches), Barcelona (club) and Shakhtar Donestsk Ukrainian as a club that has progressed in the decade.

There are also awards for best club of its continents for Barcelona (Europe), Boca Juniors (South America) América of Mexico (CONCACAF), Al-Ahly of Egypt (Africa), Al-Hilal of Saudi Arabia (Asia) and Auckland City new Zealand (Oceania).

The prizes for the most popular players confederations in 2011 correspond to the Italian Roma, Francesco Totti, Manchester United Mexican Javier "Chicharito" Hernández, Eduardo Jesús Vargas of the Universidad de Chile, and Harold Kewell (Oceania), Yasser Al Qahtani (Asia) and Nadir Lamyaghri (Africa). (via SPORT)

Puyol: "Tito is the best news"

The Barça captain has revealed the players’ satisfaction at Tito Vilanova’s appointment: “He knows the team and our philosophy better than anybody and has been working alongside Guardiola the whole time”.

Puyol went on to add: “He’s the ideal person to take this project forward”.

Puyol believes that Josep Guardiola "has marked a ‘before and after’ in football”.

Carles Puyol spoke at a press conference on Saturday which was, obviously, dominated by the news that Josep Guardiola is standing down as first team manager to be replaced by Tito Vilanova. He confirmed that the players “wanted Pep to continue” but on learning of his decision and the reasons behind it, he explained: “The fact that Tito will be the manger is the best news we could get. He’s the continuation of a project and has the support of all the players”.

Puyol also expressed his agreement with the thinking behind the choice of Tito Vilanova: “He knows the team and our philosophy better than anybody. He knows a great deal about football and has worked hand in hand with Pep all this time. It’ll be more or less the same as it has been up to now. The philosophy and the idea will be the same. He’s the ideal person to take this project forward”.

As for the mood of the players now that they know Guardiola is stepping aside, Puyol spoke mainly of gratitude: “We’ll be eternally grateful to him. He has marked a ‘before and after’ in football, and that’s really important. He’s given us so much, more than we could have imagined. Things like always going out to win, having great respect for opponents…Now life goes on and we will try and follow the path he has marked out for us and to do as good a job as he has done”.

Puyol also revealed how the players had heard the news: “If you’d asked us before the Chelsea match, we’d have said he was going to continue. After having two days off and, given everything that has been coming out, we were expecting it yesterday. We players have tried in our day to day work and attitude to get him to continue. We’ve given our all. But when the pressure is like he’s explained, it’s difficult. It must be really hard to be a manager, and even more so the way he lives it. He thinks about football 24 hours a day”.

Asked by reporters what he would most remember about Guardiola, Puyol didn’t hesitate a moment: “I’ll remember everything he’s given us. His way of understanding football. He’s left behind a legendary team that will be remembered for ever. I hope he gets the send-off he deserves, for everything he’s given us. The players are united and keen to take this project forward”.

Finally, turning to this Sunday’s match against Rayo, Puyol told reporters. “They will be motivated to win the match, the same as us. We’ll try and do a good job, get out there on the pitch the way we’ve always done and then we’ll see what happens”.

"Messi is very grateful to the boss"

Regarding Lionel Messi’s absence from the press conference in which Guardiola announced his departure, Puyol insisted: “I want to clear up what’s been said. When training finished yesterday, we got together and said that the four captains would go. Leo wanted to go but on seeing that the captains were going, he took a step back. Then more players appeared by their own volition. Leo is very grateful to the boss, just like all the squad, and if there’s a farewell do then we’ll all be there, because we’ll all 100% behind him”. (via FCBarcelona.com)

Mascherano will be a special guest in the party of 'Messi and his friends'

The Brazilian Robinho, Diego Forlan and Argentine Ariel Ortega, Javier Mascherano and Ezquiel Lavezzi, are part of the friendly 'Messi and his friends', to be held on 21 June in Bogotá.

They are joined by Colombians also James Rodríguez, Mario Yepes and as was confirmed, Falcao García, among other Colombians who played the game with the best player in the world, Lionel Messi, said Lorena Petersson, press officer of Total Concerts, company in charge of the event.

It also confirmed the Venezuelan names like Danny Alves of Portuguese and Brazilian Julio César. Part of the proceeds with the game tickets will go to Lio Messi Foundation, the philanthropic organization created by the player who also is an ambassador for Unicef. (via SPORT)

Messi too emotional to watch Pep farewell

Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi says he felt far too emotional to face the media glare at coach Pep Guardiola's farewell announcement.

"I want to thank Pep with all my heart for everything he has given me in my professional career and personally," the 24-year-old Argentinian said on his Facebook page on Friday.

"Because of the emotions I feel, I preferred not to be present at Pep's press conference and to stay away from the press because I know they will look for the pain on the players' faces.

"It is something I decided not to show."

Messi: "I had dreamed of going to Munich"

Lionel Messi wanted to speak on its website after the defeat in the Champions League against Chelsea. "We have suffered another blow. Not reached," said Barça 10.

The crack azulgrana used a page in which China has a verified profile to send a message to fans of Barça. "We have suffered another blow. You have ever seen that we have spending in the two semifinal games, still not reached. I had dream of going to Munich. Now turn to play the league and especially the Cup final next season we'll try again. Thanks for the messages of support "reflects 'Olé'. (via MD)

[Ex player] Maradona defends Messi after missing the penalty against Chelsea

Diego Armando Maradona broke a lance for Leo Messi after the Barcelona forward missed a decisive penalty in the semifinal round of the Champions League against Chelsea.

The 'Pelusa', which took the 'Flea' at your service in the Argentina, reacted to the criticism directed at three Ballon d'Or and wrote in his Twitter account.

"I do not understand the Argentines assholes who want evil to Leo. For missing a penalty or make a goal continues to be the best, fuck no," was the message at @ MaradonaDA, official account of the former Barça player and current coach of Al Wasl of UAE.

Maradona and Messi had to support the World Cup in South Africa after the Argentina fell in the quarter-final against Germany by a convincing 0-4.

That July 3, 2010 and azulgrana defender said: "Whoever says that Lio does not feel this shirt is stupid. He played a great World Cup." (via MD)

Aguero: "Until he retires, Messi will remain the best in the world"

Argentina's Sergio 'Kun' Agüero praised his countryman Leo Messi, who returned to qualify as the best player in the world.

"For me, from now until he retires, Leo will always remain the best player in the world. I'm happy to play with him in the team," said the Manchester City in an interview with ESPN.

Agüero said that Messi plays always with a note "of seven points up." "Upon entering the field and is a seven. There are good games and bad games, but people see what they do in Barcelona," said the Argentine, who go to azulgrana "quietest" in the selection albiceleste. "It has the support of us all," he added.

Finally, the 'Kun' said the desire of the Argentine since 1986: win a World Cup again, "We are many good players are in Europe. There team to win a World Cup and is now Sabella looking for the best. up to us, "he said. (via SPORT)

Scolari: "The only bad thing in the life of Cristiano Ronaldo is Messi"

Luiz Felipe Scolari believes that Cristiano Ronaldo could be the best player in the world ... if it were not for Leo Messi is the world number one.

The former Portuguese coach knows the '7' of Real Madrid, who said that "as a person is great and wonderful." "Ronaldo is spectacular. Works like no other, is a companion and friend. A professional at the highest level," he added, speaking pubicadas American media.

Scolari praised his former pupil and attacked his critics, accusing them of being "jealous" with him: "They are angry because Cristiano is very good player, attractiveness and success among women," she said.

The Brazilian coach, however, assumes that there is someone better than him. Specifically, Leo Messi: "The only thing wrong with the Cristiano life is Messi. If not for him, would be the best in the world for five consecutive years," he said. (via SPORT)

Leo Messi, named one of the world’s most influential people by TIME Magazine

TIME, the prestigious North American magazine, named Leo Messi to their annual 100 Most Influential People in the World list. He’s the only footballer to feature on the list.

Mia Hamm defines Messi as “an incredible team player”.

Each year TIME selects the 100 most influential people in the world, the personalities that make up his year’s TIME 100 are people that “inspire us, entertain us, challenge us and change our world.” La Masia graduate and FC Barcelona striker Leo Messi made the list along with other athletes, like NBA star Jeremy Lin and the tennis player Novak Djokovic. There are no other footballers that feature in this year’s TIME 100.

The ex-player and now Barça ambassador Mia Hamm explained the reasons behind Messi’s selection. “He’s incredibly talented and humble,” writes Hamm. The two-time FIFA World Player described the day she met the Argentine star: “He was a bit shy — some of that can be attributed to the language barrier — but I was able to watch their training, and it was clear he was an incredible teammate.”

Hamm believes that Messi “certainly has the potential to be remembered as the best player of all time.” This isn’t the first time Messi has graced the pages of the magazine. In January, TIME’s cover featured the portrait of the FC Barcelona star with the title King Leo. (via FCBarcelona.com)

Five-year anniversary of Messi's Maradona-like goal

Pass & Move like Iniesta, Xavi & Messi

Messi, 201 goals with Guardiola

Leo Messi has scored 201 goals for FC Barcelona since Guardiola took charge of the Barça bench. The player, with a spectacular average of 0.96 goals per game, has only needed 210 official matches to reach this goal-scoring mark.

Leo Messi’s name tends to be on people’s lips before and after FC Barcelona play a match. Today is no exception. The Argentine genius has scored 201 goals with Josep Guardiola on the Barça bench. It took Messi only 4 seasons to accomplish this feat (210 official matches). Since Guardiola decided to position Messi closer to the opposition’s goal, the Argentine has turned into a veritable goal-scoring machine, averaging 0.96 goals per game. With Rijkaard, under whom Messi made his debut on October 16 2004 against Espanyol, the striker scored 42 goals in 110 official matches (0.38 goals per game).

The best player in the world has consistently improved year after year. In his first season with Guardiola, 2008/09, he scored 38 goals in 51 official matches. In 2009/10, he scored 47 in 53 matches. Last season he scored 53 goals in 55 official matches. This year he already has 63 goals in 51 matches, averaging 1.2 goals per game. So far this season, he’s scored 41 goals in the Liga, 14 in the Champions League, 2 in the Cup, 3 in the Spanish Super Cup, 1 in the European Super Cup and 2 in the Club World Cup.

With 63 goals already scored this season, Messi is a strong contender for a slew of new records: he is in the running to claim his second Pichichi title in the Liga, he could finish the season as the highest goal scorer in the Champions League for the fourth consecutive season, he is close to winning his second European Golden Shoe (formerly known as Golden Boot) award and he’s only 5 goals back from Gerd Müller’s historic record of 67 scored goals in one season. (via FCBarcelona.com)


[His 201 goals]
Season 2008/09
38 goals in 51 matches

Season 2009/10
47 goals in 53 matches

Season 2010/11
53 goals in 55 matches

Season 2011/12
63 goals in 51 matches

Maradona to Pelé: "Neymar is the best in the world, if Messi is from another planet"

Maradona has no doubt that Messi is the best in the world and takes the opportunity to lash out at the last words of Pelé.

Diego Armando Maradona is his particular war with Pelé but this time with Messi as the protagonist.

A few days ago the Brazilian star said Neymar was the best in the world saying that if Messi wants to hold that status "you first have to beat him."

Well, when Maradona was asked about Pelé's words, not his tongue and came out in defense of his compatriot: " What nonsense! Neymar may be the best player in the world, but only if he says Messi is from another planet, "added the coach of Al Wasl. (via SPORT)

Ardiles: "Messi is better than Maradona"

Former champion Argentine Osvaldo Ardiles admitted Thursday that the Barça player, Leo Messi, "better" than Maradona.

"I played with Maradona seven campaigns and magnificent era. I ended up thinking that there would not be another same player, but I have to admit that Messi is better, declared the now coach of Japanese Machida Zelvia.

Ardiles trusts fully in that the blaugrana will also achieve successes with the one combined Argentinean: "Messi has not achieved results with the national selection, but they will come, I am sure."

A national evolution "exists and the current players are every better time. Messi is for a lot the best, added. (via SPORT)

Pelé turns to look down on Messi: "We still must overcome Neymar"

The Brazilian Pelé is obsessed with belittling the achievements of Leo Messi, who does not consider the best ever since he believes that it still has to overcome to Neymar.

"He's a star, fine. But for Messi to be the best of all, you must first achieve better than Neymar" said legendary ex player Brazilian, who still had more words about the '10 'azulgrana. "The only thing that exceeds Messi to Neymar is that is more experienced," said three-time world champion.

Undoubtedly, some statements in addition to those made in recent months by Pelé, bent on putting the same level Neymar that the player Argentina. Something that, without belittling the Santos, is far from reality. (via SPORT)

Messi: 11 goals in 12 matches against Zaragoza

The Argentine has scored seven goals from his last three visits to La Romareda.

Messi has netted 23 times in his last 12 matches for the Club.

Zaragoza once again succumbed to Leo Messi’s talent. The Argentine, with a brace to help FC Barcelona take the three points this Saturday (1-4), has scored 11 goals from 12 matches played against Real Zaragoza. Messi is a veritable nightmare for the Aragón side, especially at La Romareda. In his last three visits to the stadium, the La Masia graduate has scored a total of seven goals: three in the 2009/10 season, two in the 2010/11 season and two this Saturday.

His today's brace, the Argentine continues his goal scoring rampage. In fact, he’s scored 23 goals in his last 12 matches. In total, he has 60 goals from 50 matches, and he’s only 7 away from drawing level with Müller’s historic goal tally of 67 goals scored in a single year, set in the 1972/72 season. (via FCBarcelona.com)

[Selection] Sabella: "You have to invent a word that defines Messi"

The Argentine coach Alejandro Sabella explains the differences between Messi of Barça and of Argentina.

Alejandro Sabella has returned to rave to Leo Messi. "About that Messi is in Spain, the Royal Academy should invent a word to define it exactly. For me, as national team coach, is a privilege to direct it," he said in an interview on Radio Sport Telam.

The Argentine coach also explained what he said difference to Messi of Barça and playing for Argentina. "In Spain, the referees are stricter in physical play. In contrast, in South America are more permissive. If you play there as here you get along yellow and red cards every day. Why Messi is better in Spain than when wearing the Argentina shirt. but if we surround ourselves properly, we as a team to be champions. best thing is that Messi is Argentine, because it is a true ambassador of our country, which helps us all on the field and makes us look good outside with a exemplary behavior. " (via SPORT)

[Former Player] Riquelme: "You have to enjoy Messi increasingly"

The Boca Juniors player and exbarcelonista Juan Roman Riquelme spares no praise for his countryman Messi.

Riquelme spoke of different themes in different Argentine media. And one of the topics of conversation with the star 'Boca Juniors' was the FC Barcelona, his club years ago. In particular, the importance of not only Leo Messi play Blaugrana but also in the present football. "Messi brings joy to me. From tiny enjoy Maradona touched me. I went out with the ball thinking I was him. Today my son thinks it's Messi's wonderful," she told Roman.

And it was the player of Barça and Villarreal is clear that Messi is "the best of all, it is faster with the ball on the foot without the ball. We have to enjoy more and more. Hopefully Sabella can put together a good team to accompany the best. "

Messi is the player of reference for a Barça, as Riquelme, is intractable in the two-legged "At Barcelona can win a single game, but at 180 minutes in the Champions League is almost impossible. On 90, 85 minutes have them. defend better than all, with the ball. "

The current player of Boca has fond memories of Barça, but not as good as the one with Villarreal. "I will always be available to Villarreal. If I have to eat today is thanks to Boca and Villarreal. Bostero was born and I will die bostero, but Villarreal spent five incredible years in which the famous criminal erre Champions League. the day that I missed the penalty were all singing to me at the door of my house, was an unforgettable moment for me, "he said Riquelme. (via SPORT)

The new challenges for Messi

If he maintains his progression scoring (total 58 goals this season) Leo is able to overcome all historical records.

While crushed records, Leo Messi is posing new challenges. The Argentinian has scored 58 goals already this season, a figure that allows you to aspire to break the record of Gerd Müller, the legendary Bayern Munich striker who scored 67 goals in the 1972-73 season, just one year before the start of the hegemony of the German team in Europe, with three consecutive European Cups.

Messi, who has scored 24 goals in their last twelve games (two goals per game), ahead at least 11 games (eight league, two Champions League semi-final and final of the Copa del Rey) to continue spraying figures. Leo, in fact, you can finish the season as top scorer in all competitions that dispute: it's all over Spain Super Cup with three goals (the top scorer of the competition), the European Super Cup with one, you can also end Top scorer in the Cup (Fernando Llorente is tied with five goals) in the league (total 36, one less than Cristiano Ronaldo) and in the Champions League, which already totals 14, as many as the tournament's all-time record in a single season , which was held by José Altafini in 1963.

Messi equaled italobrasileño Milan player with two penalty goals to the Italian team again decisive for Barça access to the semifinals of the Champions League. "In the shootout," said Leo, "I try to take the goalkeeper to move, but this was complicated because Abbiati is very big and I knew I could stop it with a movement. In fact, I think the opener touches the ball. But the important thing is to help the team qualify. "

A Messi are presented challenges us to think that Leo will be around for a while. The Argentine striker is 20 goals to become the top scorer in Champions League history (51, 71, by Raul), ie, about half a season, if he continues to progress, to be crowned as the king of goal in the history of the European Cup.

In La Liga, Messi has a total of 155 goals. In the end, although in the long term, are the three best ever: Zarra (251), Hugo Sánchez (234) and Raúl (228). Before you can become the second player in history to win two Pichichis Barça after Quini, who was top scorer in the championship dress blaugrana in seasons 1980-81 and 1981-82.

Nor is it unreasonable to think that Messi can achieve some day the six European Cups he won as a player Paco Gento of Real Madrid, a record that remains untouched since 1966. (via SPORT)