sportbible homepage
sportbible homepage
  • Football
  • Boxing
  • UFC
  • Home
  • Football
    • Premier League
    • Champions League
    • World Cup
    • England
    • Transfer News
    • Manchester United
    • Liverpool
    • Arsenal
    • Real Madrid
    • Barcelona
  • Formula 1
    • Red Bull
    • Ferrari
    • McLaren
    • Mercedes
    • Max Verstappen
    • Lewis Hamilton
    • Lando Norris
    • George Russell
    • Charles Leclerc
  • Boxing
  • UFC
  • More Sport
    • Tennis
    • Golf
    • NBA
    • NFL
    • Darts
    • Athletics
    • Rugby
    • Wrestling
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Archive
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Snapchat
TikTok
Threads
YouTube
Submit Your Content Here
  • LADbible
  • Tyla
  • GAMINGbible
  • LADbible Group
  • UNILAD
  • FOODbible
  • UNILAD Tech
Insane compilation of Lionel Messi in record-breaking year proves it wasn't just about the goals

Home> Football

Updated 15:33 6 Jan 2023 GMTPublished 15:34 6 Jan 2023 GMT

Insane compilation of Lionel Messi in record-breaking year proves it wasn't just about the goals

Messi scored 91 goals in 2012 - but he did so much more than that.

Daniel Marland

Daniel Marland

google discoverFollow us on Google Discover

Lionel Messi's 2012 will go down in football history after scoring 91 times for club and country. Somehow, a compilation of him from that year without including any of his goals is still outrageous.

Messi scored 79 times for Barcelona and 12 for Argentina in 69 games en route to winning the fourth of his seven Ballon d'Or awards.

He smashed the previous world record of 85 goals in a calendar year set by Bayern Munich and Germany legend Gerd Muller 40 years earlier. We'll likely never see it matched.

What if we told you that just looking at the goals would be doing Messi a disservice? He was at another level in all aspects of his game.

Advert

Messi was untouchable in almost every game, despite Barcelona only winning the Copa del Rey that year.

The future World Cup winner dictated the tempo in Pep Guardiola's final season as coach. By this point, Barcelona had won two Champions League titles in three years and established themselves as the world's best team.

It put a bigger target on Messi's back, especially in games against Real Madrid.

Los Blancos manager Jose Mourinho tasked his defenders to rough the diminutive playmaker up as much as possible. We all know about Pepe and Sergio Ramos' antics.

Fans online have reacted to the compilation, which has been viewed by 1.4 million people at the time of writing.

One person said: "I can’t believe Messi was doing all this and then still scored 91 goals."

Another put: "Wonder what his actual record would be if these big chance creations were brought into contention, how can anyone say he isn’t the greatest?"

A third tweeted: "The biggest PR for Cristiano Ronaldo is that he got compared to Messi while being at least two levels below him."

While someone put: "We've all seen these but have we ACTUALLY analysed these games and clips? Look at the efficiency of his dribbling, the perfect weight of his passes, his insane composure. He just never looks sloppy, he's pure football ffs."

Messi is helped from the ground by Alexis Sanchez. (Image
Alamy)

Mesis was asked about that legendary year as it came to a close by El Pais. He admitted he'd rather have trophies than individual awards, which is why it's a good job he's collected plenty of both in recent years.

"I prefer to win titles with the team more than individual prizes or scoring more goals than anybody else," he admitted. "I’m more interested in being a good person than being the best footballer in the world. After all, when all this ends, what do you take with you?

"When I retire, I hope people remember me as a decent person. I like to score goals, but also to have friends among the people I have played with."

Featured Image Credit: @Greezy Wonder/Twitter

Topics: Lionel Messi, Barcelona, La Liga

Daniel Marland
Daniel Marland

Daniel is SPORTbible's Senior Social Editor.

X

@DanMarland_

Recommended reads

Man Utd's 15 transfer targets to fill four key positions as at least six prepare to leaveGetty ImagesDennis Taylor interview: Why snooker legend is playing in brand-new event... and how he saved someone's lifeGettyRanking the top 10 best golfers of all time as Nicklaus v Woods GOAT debate settledGetty ImagesDavid Munyua and Peter Wachiuri interview: 'We wish for major PDC players to come and visit Kenya'Getty / Instagram/@wachiuridarts

Advert

Choose your content:

4 hours ago
6 hours ago
9 hours ago
  • Getty Images
    4 hours ago

    Ex-England manager set for shock return to management with League Two club

    A former England manager is set for a return to club management with a League Two club.

    Football
  • Getty Images
    6 hours ago

    Dutch football plunged into chaos as 133 matches could be replayed

    The Eredivisie could have been plunged into chaos leading to 133 matches that may need replayed.

    Football
  • Alex Wong/Getty Images + Wiki Commons
    9 hours ago

    Iran officials denied access to FIFA World Cup meeting - 'They have no place in our country'

    Iran's football federation has spoken out following the crucial meeting.

    Football
  • Getty Images
    9 hours ago

    Mo Salah prepared to reject millions and make shock move to European giants

    Nobody saw this coming.

    Football
  • Forgotten Barcelona wonderkid who was 'better than Lionel Messi' managed just one senior goal for the club
  • Xavi drops Lionel Messi bombshell as Barcelona 'betrayal' revealed
  • Lionel Messi's first Barcelona contract was written on napkin and included agreement which changed football history
  • Lionel Messi buys 100% stake in football club as official statement confirms plans