Messi only 4 goals short of Pele's record

Leo Messi broke another record in A Coruña to add to his impressive tally. The Argentine, who scored a hat-trick in the 'Riazor' stadium, managed to improve on the previous record for the most number of goals in one calendar year.

He has scored no less than 71 goals, one better than in 2010, but the difference being that we're only half way through October. In other words, he's going to smash his personal best to smithereens.

In 1959, Pelé scored 75 times in a single year, 66 for his club Santos and 9 for Brazil. Messi, who has scored 59 for Barça and 12 for Argentina, is only four goals short of the total reached by 'O Rei'.

The Barça forward has already scored 15 goals this season. Eleven of those were in the la Liga, making him the competition's top scorer. The odd thing is that they came in four pairs, scored against Real Sociedad, Osasuna, Getafe and Real Madrid, plus the hat-trick against Deportivo.

The combination of Messi and Cesc Fàbregas has been a match made in heaven so far this season. The Catalan set up three goals in the game against Deportivo, the first one for Alba and then two more for Messi, who acknowledged the fact, making a total of five this season. There were some doubts surrounding Fàbregas at the start of the season, but he has always had the unwavering support of his manager.

Cesc, together with Valdés, is the only outfield player in the squad that has always been chosen for the starting line-up. Meanwhile, David Villa, who has only been picked to start a match once before, returned to the starting eleven in the game against Granada.

Source: Marca