Who are those critics you speak about? I mean, you can talk about Messi being tired, dropping form lately, but not performing in big games is utter shit.

I hope he won't play in upcoming 4 dead rubbers game in the League, but knowing him he will play all 90 minutes in those 4 games to win Pichichi and score 70 goals in the season. He is too tired and needs long rest. In next season he shouldn't take pens and FK and he must be subbed sometimes and rested vs weaker La Liga teams. No more overplaying in next season for him hopefully.

Goal.com and well other minor websites. Im not on for long but I will repeat with my best effort what they said. 'They say Ronaldo doesn't perform in big games but recently we have seen him score in the Clasico and Champions Legaue. What has Messi done? Hasn't scored in the last past Clasicos and didn't score against Chelsea'. You may find a report on Goal.com but its all bullcrap and well its just trying to stir up the fans. Messi has a bad week. He is human! Good for Ronaldo for finally scoring regularly against Barca...

http://www.ciudad.com.ar/espectaculos/92066/confirmado-lionel-messi-va-ser-papa

Messi will be a father, his girlfriend is 3 months pregnant, and they are engaged.

Apparently he is a big game flop now.
Guy runs out of gas at the wrong time after excelling in every big game of the season and now he is a big game flop.

You can't fight stupidity

Have been deceived.Thought he was completely tired and finished for the season.But apparently all he needs is 4 days rest.
Excellent performance and that nutmeg through ball
First time I have seen one.

If messi rests 5 days he becomes on form again. in last month he didnt get this chance.

if pep again plays 3 strikers and no midfielders it will not help messi to win piccici. in yesterday's formation only creative man was messi, he was creating for others instead of scoring

Ronaldo: Messi is the best Ever.

I'd wait till he finishes his career. Too hard to assess now ^

Just a question.
has this been his best season ever?Or was last season better?
Personally for me this has been his best season and I cant remember another individual having a better season.
Its just a shame that arguably the greatest individual season in history ends with Messi not picking up any major trophies.

He's scored more goals and his assist rate hasn't dropped since last season with the 2011-12 still not over. But I don't think he was as effective in big games as he was last season. And he had a few weak matches where Barcelona dropped points away from home. Football is a team sport though, and in my opinion he generally missed playing alongside a goalscorer whom he was comfortable with. Villa was injured, Pedro out of form and Alexis trying to adapt. Simply too much pressure on him this season.

danyjr wrote:He's scored more goals and his assist rate hasn't dropped since last season with the 2011-12 still not over. But I don't think he was as effective in big games as he was last season. And he had a few weak matches where Barcelona dropped points away from home. Football is a team sport though, and in my opinion he generally missed playing alongside a goalscorer whom he was comfortable with. Villa was injured, Pedro out of form and Alexis trying to adapt. Simply too much pressure on him this season.

Dont agree that he wasnt as effective in big games.
Barring the second leg against Chelsea,he showed up in every single big game.He actually showed the ability to grab the game by the scruff of the neck when we were struggling in games.
The first league Clasico and the 2 CDR Clasico's spring to mind.Showing up when the team didnt.
Last season we were never put in such a situation whereas this season we were.
One game,where it was clear that he was completely gassed,doesnt mean he wasnt effective in big games.

Good game by Messi today, he beat Gerd Müller's record.



What a humble person!

He is mad, Martinez told him messi scored a hat-trick

New goal in life: Go to Camp Nou and watch this man.

46 Liga goals, #Messi is just 3 goals behind Tom Waring who netted 49 times for Aston Villa in the 1930/1931 [via @InfostradaLive ] #fcblive

Note: all-time record by Dixie Dean for Everton 60 goalsin the league.
--------

¤ Most Goals in a single Season (all comps - Club):
1- Messi (so far,11/12) - 68.
2- Gerd Muller (72/73, Bayern) - 67.
3- Pele (1958, Santos) - 66.
...

------------------------

¤ Liga's all-time Top Scorers:
1- T.Zarra (251) goals
2- H. Sanchez (234)
3- Raul (228)
…
11- Gorostiza (178)
12- Messi (165)
13- Eto’o (162)
14- David Villa (161)
...

------------------------

¤ Champions League and European Cup all-time Top Scorers, since 1955 (Main Tournament):
1) - Raul – (71) goals.
2) - Van Nistelrooy – (56).
3) - Leo MESSI – (51).
4) - Henry – (50).
5) - Di Stefano – (49).
------------------------

¤ Barcelona’s all-time Top Scorers:
1) - Leo MESSI – (248) goals.
2) - Cesar Rodriguez – (232).
3) – Laszlo Kubala – (194).
4) - Josep Samitier – (178).
5) - Josep Escola – (164).

------------------------

¤ All-time Top-Scorers in Top European Clubs: ( i still have to check these stats from more reliable sources and check other big club records):

- Bayern; 509 goals in 563 official games [Bundesliga, German Cup and European competitions] by Gerd Muller [1964–1979].
365 goals in 427 Bundesliga games, international record of 66 goals in 74 European Club games, 78 goals in 62 German Cup games.

- Benfica; 473 goals in 437 games; (League: 319 goals in 313 games; Cup: 97 in 60, Europe: 64 in 57) by Eusebio [1960-75].

- Liverpool; 346 goals in 660 games by Ian Rush. [1980-87].

- Athletic Bilbao; 332 goals in 352 matches (League: 251 in 277; Copa:81 in 74) by Telmo Zarra [1940–1955].

- Real Madrid; 323 goals in 741 games by Raul. [1994-2010].

- Juventus; 288 goals in 702 games by Del Piero. [1993- ongoing].

- Inter Milan; 287 goals in 408 games by Giuseppe Meazza [1927-40]

- Man Utd; 249 goals in 758 games by Bobby Charlton [1956–1973].

- Barcelona; 248 goals in 326 games by Leo Messi [2004- ongoing].

- Arsenal: 229 goals in 376 games by Thierry Henry [1999-2007 and 2012].

- ACMilan; 221 goals in 268 games, Gunnar Nordahl [1949–1956].

Note: All the stats above include just OFFICIAL matches.

Messi didn't yet turn 25 Can he break these records?

Does anyone else notice that the word "Messiah" has Messi in it? 0_o
weird

"Messiah"

Umm... Yes haha. That's why this thread is called Messiah and that is one of his most popular nicknames.

Btw... Martinez bring that man to the Nou

Congrats on breaking the Gerd Muller record, just amazing! And finally 2 ahead of Penaldo, watching Ronaldo miss his penalty again yesterday and generally flopping was so enjoyable knowing that Messi is ahead and couldnt catch him finally! Im pretty sure Messi will win it back this season the pichici.

He simply is a genuis. Shame he doesn't have any trophies to top it off... He will soon enough become the La Liga All time goal scorer as well as Champions League!
Messi

Khaled wrote:46 Liga goals, #Messi is just 3 goals behind Tom Waring who netted 49 times for Aston Villa in the 1930/1931 [via @InfostradaLive ] #fcblive

Note: all-time record by Dixie Dean for Everton 60 goalsin the league.
--------

¤ Most Goals in a single Season (all comps - Club):
1- Messi (so far,11/12) - 68.
2- Gerd Muller (72/73, Bayern) - 67.
3- Pele (1958, Santos) - 66.
...

------------------------

¤ Liga's all-time Top Scorers:
1- T.Zarra (251) goals
2- H. Sanchez (234)
3- Raul (228)
…
11- Gorostiza (178)
12- Messi (165)
13- Eto’o (162)
14- David Villa (161)
...

------------------------

¤ Champions League and European Cup all-time Top Scorers, since 1955 (Main Tournament):
1) - Raul – (71) goals.
2) - Van Nistelrooy – (56).
3) - Leo MESSI – (51).
4) - Henry – (50).
5) - Di Stefano – (49).
------------------------

¤ Barcelona’s all-time Top Scorers:
1) - Leo MESSI – (248) goals.
2) - Cesar Rodriguez – (232).
3) – Laszlo Kubala – (194).
4) - Josep Samitier – (178).
5) - Josep Escola – (164).

------------------------


Messi didn't yet turn 25 Can he break these records?

After 2 seasons he will break raul record in CL and Zarra record in la liga. No record remained in club level

Congrats to Messi, amazing player.

That was one record I didn't think would be broken.

34 games + 30 minutes and 46 goals in the league, other worldly numbers right there.

With 68 goals, Messi is two goals away from the all-time world record of Archie Stark: 70 goals in 1924-25 for Bethlehem Steel, USA [via md]

-----------------------

All-Time Topscorers in a single Season (60+ goals):

1. Archibald Stark : 70 goals in 46 matches, 1924-25 (Bethlehem Steel)
2. Lionel Messi : 68 goals in 57 matches, 2011-12 (FC Barcelona)
3. Gerhard Muller : 67 goals in 49 matches, 1972-73 (Bayern Munich)
4. Ferenc Deak : 66 goals in 34 matches, 1945-46 (Szentlorinci)
4. Pelé : 66 goals in 46 matches, 1958 (Santos FC)
4. Romario : 66 goals in 72 matches, 2000 (CR Vasco da Gama)
7. Gyula Zsengeller : 65 goals in 32 matches, 1938-39 (Ujpest FC)
8. Zico : 65 goals in 51 matches, 1979 (Flamengo)
9. Pelé : 64 goals in 48 matches, 1965 (Santos FC)
10. Dixie Dean : 63 goals in 41 matches, 1927-28 (Everton FC)
11. Pelé : 62 goals in 8 matches, 1961 (Santos FC)
12. Jimmy McGrory : 62 goals in 46 matches, 1927-28 (Celtic FC)
13. Hector Scotta : 60 goals in 1975 (San Lorenzo)

messi's ball control at third goal....doesnt control it just runs with it