Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo Could Set Individual Goal Records This Year

Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are both expected to individually set remarkable goal records this year.

In 2012, Messi has achieved his the greatest year of his career. At 25, the Barcelona star scored 91 goals to become the only player to achieve the said feat. The Argentine recorded the unbelievable tally in 69 games for club and country and closed the year with a final strike in Barcelona's 3-1 victory at Real Valladolid.

Messi’s 91 goals in 2012 has broken the previous world record of 85 goals in a calendar year set by Germany and Bayern Munich striker Gerd Müller 40 years prior, Sport Bible reported.

The six-time Ballon d'Or winner notched 13 goals in 12 Champions League appearances, including the five-goal haul and four-goal hauls against Bayer Leverkusen and Arsenal. On top of that, Messi also scored five goals in eight Copa del Rey games, two goals in two Supercopa ties and an impressive 59 goals in 38 La Liga games.

Breaking down the said feat, Messi also scored 14 penalties, hit nine hat-tricks and averaged a goal every 66 minutes. 78 of his 91 goals were scored inside the penalty area, with 40 of his tally coming in the final half hour of games.

Indeed, Messi's magnificent 2012 goal record is something that is unlikely to be repeated by any active goalscorer for years. However, the 32-year old living legend has continued to cop insane amounts of goals. In fact, Messi has scored 50+ goals for club and country in nine years of the last decade.

This goes to show that if Messi will be productive this year, he is bound to complete a decade of 50+ goals scored per year.

Messi’s fellow superstar Ronaldo is also on his way to making history this year. In Ronaldo’s first season with Juventus, he already scored a total of 28 goals in 43 games. And despite some injury problems, the Portuguese striker has hit the back of the net 16 times in the last 23 games.

Ronaldo’s convertion at the penalty at Roma last weekend saw him broke quite a notable record. After the said goal, CR7 has now officially scored against every active Serie A side he has faced.

The only sides he hasn't scored against are Brescia and Lecce, which is quite understandable as Juventus hasn’t played both clubs yet. If things will play out well for Ronaldo and Juventus, the 34-year-old superstar can make a sweep by scoring a goal when Juve finally play Brescia and Lecce on Feb. 16 and March 15, respectively.