Lionel Messi Breaks Gerd Muller's Record for Goals in a European Season

All that talk in recent weeks of Barcelona forward Lionel Messi losing his edge after being held goalless in losses to Real Madrid and Chelsea has evaporated.

Sixty-eight goals in a single season has a tendency to do that, brushing away what would appear to be the most resilient blemishes.

With a hat trick against Malaga on May 2, Messi took his single-season European goal total from 65 to 68, thereby passing former Bayern Munich stalwart Gerd Muller's previous continental record of 67. Barcelona won the match 4-1.

Muller had spoken to Mundo Deportivo ahead of today's match about the possibility of seeing Messi overtake his tally.

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"Technically, Messi is superb," Muller said. "His goals are brilliant. And despite being a genius, he's not a selfish player. There have been many great goalscorers. It means a lot that my record has stood for 40 years.

"[But] records are there to be beaten. I'd be the first to congratulate Messi if he scores 68 goals this season, it'd be an honor."

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And congratulate him he shall.

Hats off to Muller for his magnanimous approach, and a worldwide collective bow to Messi, winner of the last two FIFA Ballon d'Or awards—given to the player considered the greatest in world football for the previous season. Should he tally some more strikes before the end of the season (Barcelona have two games remaining), he may just make a case for a three-peat.

Despite being held scoreless in three matches against Chelsea (April 18, April 24) and Real Madrid (April 21), Messi still has 27 goals in his last 17 games—an unfathomable return, but one that lends credence to his greatness.

Greatness that was glowing as radiantly as ever on Wednesday.