Lionel Messi has passed Pele’s milestone of goals in a calendar year by scoring for the 75th and 76th time in 2012.
The Argentine moved within nine of Gerd Muller’s all-time record and helped Barcelona win 4-2 at Mallorca in La Liga.
76 not out: Messi (centre) needs 10 more goals to break Gerd Muller's record
Prolific: Messi still has 50 days to break Muller's record
Xavi Hernandez scored in the 28th minute before Messi struck in the 44th. Cristian Tello added a third goal a minute later. Mallorca replied twice but Messi made it 4-2 as Barcelona rebounded from their surprising 2-1 defeat at Celtic in the Champions League.
Pele scored 75 goals in 1958. Muller netted 85 in 1972.
Legends: Muller (above left) and Pele (below)
Real Madrid were indebted to goals from Cristiano Ronaldo and substitute Alvaro Morata in a 2-1 win at waterlogged Levante.
Ronaldo sustained a nasty cut above his left eye when he was caught by David Navarro’s elbow in Valencia but still went on to score.
Eye for goal: Ronaldo netted for Real Madrid on Sunday night
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2231433/Lionel-Messi-breaks-Pele-record-reaching-76-goals-2012.html#ixzz2ByYO1xcR
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