Messi ends 2012 with 91 goals and Barça as ‘Winter Champions’

Barcelona (FCB).- Barça’s win at the Valladolid’s José Zorrilla Stadium (1-3) has produced a number of curiosities. Messi ends 2012 with 91 goals and sets a new world record. Besides, with two games yet to play before the Spanish League’s halfway stage, Barça have already secured the honorary ‘Winter Champions’ title for the nineteenth time. Here is a selection of the best:

- Barça’s spectacular start to the season continues. They have a total of 49 points from a possible 51, from 16 wins and 1 draw with an average of 3.35 goals scored per game.

- With two games yet to play before the Spanish League’s halfway stage, Barça have already secured the honorary ‘Winter Champions’ title for the nineteenth time. On 11 of the previous 18 times that they have done this, they have gone on to become league champions.

- FC Barcelona have made 2012 their record breaking year. They have set La Liga records for the most wins in a single calendar year (49) and the most goals (175).

- Messi has set the world record for goals in a single calendar year, with a grand total of 91, beating the previous all-time best set in 1972 by Germany and Bayern’s Gert Müller, who got 85. The Argentinian got 79 goals for Barça and another 12 for his national team.

- Saturday was the first time in this edition of La Liga that Leo Messi has got one goal and one goal only. That continues his remarkable record of 26 goals in 17 games so far.

- The Argentinian striker has scored in seven consecutive Spanish League matches. That means he is one away from equalling his personal best of eight in a row.

- Xavi, with five goals, is the team’s fifth highest scorer, after Messi, Villa, Adriano and Cesc. He got Barça’s third and final goal against Valladolid.

- Under Jordi Roura, the team enjoyed 66% of the possession and had 11 shots on goal, five of which were on target. Pedro and Messi hit the woodwork twice.