Mueller: Messi is an incredible player

Gerd Mueller has praised Barcelona forward Lionel Messi after he sets a new goals record in a calendar year.

Mueller scored 85 goals for Bayern Munich and West Germany in 1972 and the record stood for 40 years until Sunday night when Messi netted his 85th and 86th goals of an incredible 2012 in Barca's 2-1 win at Real Betis.

Mueller paid tributes to the Argentine on Sport1.de: 'My record stood for 40 years - 85 goals in 60 games - and now the best player in the world has broken it, and I'm delighted for him. He is an incredible player, gigantic.

'He's such a nice and modest professional and I hope he gets one or two more goals in 2012 and that he can then hold onto the record for the next 40 years. He's fantastic. He only has one defect and that is that he doesn't play for Bayern Munich!'

　

Dec. 10, 2012.