Where Lionel Messi is concerned, numbers speak louder than words. Every week the Argentina international seems to smash a new record and his two goals against Spartak Moscow on Wednesday bring him even closer to Gerd Muller's mark of 85 strikes in a calendar year.
Messi played his part in Dani Alves' brilliant opener before scuffing a second into the corner with his right and rounding the keeper for a simple finish to make it 3-0 before half-time.
In doing so, he overtook Ruudvan Nistelrooy to become thesecond-highest goalscorer in the history of the Champions League with 56 goals, behind only Raul, whose record of 14 doubles in the continental competition was also surpassed.
The two goals were also the Argentine's first goals in Russia, meaning he has now scored in all 14 countries in which he has played for Barcelona in the Champions League.
Messi's staggering statistics not only put most forward players to shame, but some club sides too. Here, Goal.com takes a look at how Leo's 80 goals in 2012 stand up to other teams, strikers and rivals in the same calendar year.
80 - Messi's goals for Barcelona and Argentina in 2012. He is currently five behind record-holder Muller, who netted 85 for Bayern Munich and Germany in 1972.Leo has up to nine games leftto surpass Muller's mark.
80 - Liverpool have scored 80 times so far in 2012. The Reds' big chance to overtake Messi (if he is still within sight) will come at Christmas - when Spain enjoys a winter break.
76 - AC Milan, last season's Serie A runners-up, Champions League quarter-finalists and Coppa Italia semi-finalists, have scored only 76 times so far in 2012.
76 - The goals scored in this summer's showpiece international tournament - Euro 2012. Messi, of course, did not take part, but will endthe year with more strikes than those racked up by the 16 European nations in Poland and Ukraine.
75 - The highest-scoring South American in a calendar year had previously been Pele, with 75 strikes in 1958. Messi is still waiting for the DVD ...
68 - The majority of Leo's goals have come with Barca in 2012, but 12 were scored for Argentina - his most productive year by far for the Albiceleste . Messi, however, was unable to break Gabriel Batistuta's 1998 record as Argentina drew 0-0 with Saudi Arabia last week. One for next year perhaps.
67 - The number of goals Miroslav Klose, the other person who is about to breaka Gerd Muller record (his 68 for Germany) has scored in 11 years and eight months ofinternational football. Messi has 31 already for Argentina, at the age of just 25.

http://m.goal.com/x/en-ng/news/3544134

Messi is a great player, but he will never b considered the greatest until he wins the world cup with Argentina. Until that day, he is just another great player like many have come and gone.

RudySmith: Messi is a great player, but he will never b considered the greatest until he wins the world cup with Argentina. Until that day, he is just another great player like many have come and gone.

say it again

RudySmith: Messi is a great player, but he will never b considered the greatest until he wins the world cup with Argentina. Until that day, he is just another great player like many have come and gone.

that's the one thing pele still has over him. Pele must be praying feverently that Argentina doesn't win the world cup while he's still alive.

Argentina is in no position to win the world cup anytime soon, so pele is safe for now. Argentina winning the next world cup in Brazil would be a double blow for pele. Brazil and Argentina hate each other royally when it comes to football!