Lionel Messi has again played down his record-breaking form for Barcelona, insisting that every individual is achieved thanks to the collective.
The 25-year-old netted twice against Rayo Vallecano on Saturday night to make it 13 goals from the first nine League games of the season and 301 career goals in total.
Continuing to add to his personal best tally for goals scored in 2012, these 72nd and 73rd goals put him in touching distance with Pele and Gerd Muller’s record totals for a year of 75 and 85.
The two strikes this weekend also pushed Messi into the top 10 goalscorers of all time in La Liga.
“It is least important is to break Pele’s record, or to have gotten the two goals, the important thing is that the team won again against a complicated opponent, and we hope to continue in that way,” the Argentine told reporters post-match.
“Today was very cold but the team played well and did not concede a goal with two of our centre-backs who usually play not there tonight. But both who played in their place did very well.
“Rayo did not create much danger for us and we must continue to work well, game after game, because there is still far to go.”
Monday will see the striker collect his Golden Boot award for the most goals scored in Europe last season.
“The Golden Boot? It’s very nice but it is merited by the whole team, I will share it with my colleagues because in football every award is an award achieved by the team.”
