GERMANY’S ALL-TIME LEADING goalscorer Gerd Müller has described Lionel Messi as a “giant” after the Argentine broke his calendar year goalscoring record that had stood for 40 years.
“My record of 85 goals in 60 matches, which stood since 1972, was beaten by the best player in the world, Lionel Messi, and I’m very happy for him,” Müller said, according to a spokesman for his former club, Bayern Munich.
Advertisement
The former West Germany striker added that he thought Messi was ‘an incredible player, a giant who is at the same time very nice and a polished professional’.
Messi, still just 25, on Sunday equalled then surpassed Mueller’s record with two first-half goals that secured a 2-1 win for Barcelona against Seville club Real Betis, earning him plaudits around the world.
“I hope he’ll score one or two goals again in the matches that remain in 2012 and that his record will stand for the next 40 years,” added Müller, who was nicknamed Der Bomber.
Müller, who was at his peak between 1964 and 1979 but battled alcoholism since his retirement in 1981, joked that Messi only had one fault: “He doesn’t play for Bayern Munich.”
The Argentine has previously beaten the record for the most goals in Spain’s La Liga in a season, 50, and is favourite to win an unprecedented fourth Ballon d’Or award in succession when the prize is announced on 7 January.
At 67, Mueller is by far the best goalscorer in the history of the Bundesliga with 365 in 427 matches but Miroslav Klose is one short of equalling his international goals record, of 68, for the national team.
Gerd Müller praises 'giant' Messi after goalscoring record falls
GERMANY’S ALL-TIME LEADING goalscorer Gerd Müller has described Lionel Messi as a “giant” after the Argentine broke his calendar year goalscoring record that had stood for 40 years.
“My record of 85 goals in 60 matches, which stood since 1972, was beaten by the best player in the world, Lionel Messi, and I’m very happy for him,” Müller said, according to a spokesman for his former club, Bayern Munich.
The former West Germany striker added that he thought Messi was ‘an incredible player, a giant who is at the same time very nice and a polished professional’.
Messi, still just 25, on Sunday equalled then surpassed Mueller’s record with two first-half goals that secured a 2-1 win for Barcelona against Seville club Real Betis, earning him plaudits around the world.
“I hope he’ll score one or two goals again in the matches that remain in 2012 and that his record will stand for the next 40 years,” added Müller, who was nicknamed Der Bomber.
Müller, who was at his peak between 1964 and 1979 but battled alcoholism since his retirement in 1981, joked that Messi only had one fault: “He doesn’t play for Bayern Munich.”
The Argentine has previously beaten the record for the most goals in Spain’s La Liga in a season, 50, and is favourite to win an unprecedented fourth Ballon d’Or award in succession when the prize is announced on 7 January.
At 67, Mueller is by far the best goalscorer in the history of the Bundesliga with 365 in 427 matches but Miroslav Klose is one short of equalling his international goals record, of 68, for the national team.
- © AFP, 2012
The Greatest: Messi breaks Gerd Muller’s calendar year record
VIDEO: And the award for most comical dive of the weekend goes to…
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Argentina Barca Barcelona Bayern Munich La Liga der bomber Football Gerd Muller German Germany Goal! Leo Messi lionel most goals paul breitner Record socce West Germany