Lionel Messi eclipses Pele goals record

Barcelona forward Lionel Messi has bettered the goalscoring record of Brazil legend Pele.

The Argentinean, 25, who found the net twice as the La Liga giants beat Mallorca 4-2 last night, has now scored 76 goals for club and country in 2012.

Pele's best goalscoring year was 1958, when he scored 75 times for Santos and Brazil.

"Leo's records are spectacular," said Barca boss Tito Vilanova. "It's spectacular when you think that he scores so many goals.

"Some players reach these numbers in seven or eight seasons, he does it in one and most of his goals are great goals."

Record-holder Gerd Muller scored 85 goals in just 60 games for Bayern Munich and West Germany in 1972.