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| Sunshine Magazine |
MADRID: Spain on Monday hailed Lionel "Missile"
Messi's record-breaking 86-goal haul in 2012 and decreed Barcelona's
"Messidependence" is a blessing.
The 25-year-old Argentine star smashed the 40-year-old
record of German legend Gerd Mueller of 85 goals in a calendar year, with a
first-half brace that sealed his side's 2-1 win in Seville at Real Betis.
"Missile Messi. Leo leaves Torpedo Muller behind
with 86 goals in a year," cried the front page of Barcelona-based sports
daily Sport.
"A Messi-anic victory," gushed the newspaper's
columnist Josep Maria Casanovas of the Barca forward, who is also favorite to
win a fourth player-of-the-year Ballon d'Or.
"We are lucky because we will always be able to say
that we lived that wonderful year in which Messi scored 86 goals. It is a
pleasure, a spectacle, a wonder to see the best player in the world in
action," he said.
Barcelona-based sports daily Mundo Deportivo said the team
were dependent on the Argentine striker after he pushed them into winning
territory in a tough match against Betis.
"Messi played. And just as well. His two goals gave
Barca victory over a proud Betis," the paper said, hailing his
"stratospheric record" of goals scored in a calendar year.
"Is there an absolute 'Messidependence'?"
asked the paper's columnist Javier Gascon. "Yes. And so what? Thanks to
that Tito Vilanova's team is leader with 14 victories and a draw in 15 match
days."Spain's biggest selling sports paper, Marca, agreed.
"Using the word 'Messidependence' has a certain
negative connotation. As if Barcelona was not capable of winning games but for
its star. But in Barca they take it as a blessing. Yesterday, it was," the
paper said. "Having the Ballon d'Or in their ranks has been an
undeniable privilege in the past three years," the paper said. "To
the contrary, using Leo and his ambition is very healthy when the going gets
tough."
Mundo Deportivo had a word for his team mates, too.
"The stratospheric Argentine football player has
behind him a team of stars, capable of accepting
an indisputible hierarchy and helping him to be better every day," the
paper said.
"Barca has the best player in the world and he
has surely the best team in the world at his side."
Messi himself said the team was key even as he celebrated
the new record after the game at Betis.
"I've said it a lot, it's nice to beat records but the
win for the team is what is important and the points difference at the
top," said Messi as Barcelona maintained their six-point lead over
Atletico Madrid and 11-point gap on Real Madrid.
"My goals are to win titles with the team, the Spanish
league, Spanish Cup or Champions League is more important than any personal
records."
Barca coach Tito Vilanova looked forward to more to come
from Messi, who now has 74 goals in all competitions for Barcelona this year as
well as 12 for Argentina, having played 66 games in all.
His La Liga total is already up to 23 for this season alone
and he can add to his year's tally with three games still to play in 2012 -- in
La Liga against Atletico Madrid and Valladolid and the Spanish Cup tie at
Cordoba.
"It seems impossible to score so many goals, let's hope
he can add to the record in the games to come," said Vilanova.
Vilanova was quick, however, to dampen the euphoria
surrounding his star player.
"We shouldn't heap more pressure on him.
His record this year is absolutely brutal. Let's enjoy the
moment and not focus on how many goals he might score in the future,"
added the coach.
