10 unbelievable records set by Lionel Messi this decade (2010-2019)

#3 Most goals scored in a calendar year

Messi scored a staggering 91 goals for Barcelona in 2012

Seven years ago, Messi set arguably the most logic-defying record in football history by scoring a mind-blowing 91 goals in a single calendar year.

The record was previously held by German icon Gerd Muller, who netted 85 goals in 1972, and was originally beaten by Messi when he scored his 85th and 86th goals of 2012 in a 2-1 win over Real Betis in La Liga.

The Argentine went on to finish the year with 91 goals and 29 assists from 69 games, taking his goal contribution tally to a staggering 120.

📅 6 Years Ago Today:🇦🇷 Lionel Messi scored his 85th goal of the calendar year.✅ Becoming the first player in football history to score 85 goals in a single calendar year. 🤯 He then finished 2012 with 91 goals scored.👽 Out of this world. pic.twitter.com/gIx3jiKZHV

— SPORF (@Sporf) December 9, 2018

#4 Most European Golden Shoe wins

Lionel Messi receiving the Golden Shoe award

Messi was rewarded with a series of accolades for his scintillating individual performances last season. The Argentine superstar tallied 51 goals in all competitions for Barcelona and guided them to a consecutive La Liga title at the end of the campaign.

Among these prizes is the European Golden Shoe which was presented to the Blaugrana skipper for scoring 36 goals in the Spanish top-flight, which is more than any other player in Europe's top five leagues.

The win made the 32-year-old forward the first and only player to win the award six times, with Juventus marksman Ronaldo the only player to come close with four awards.

Messi narrowly beat Kylian Mbappe to the award as the Frenchman only needed to score four goals for Paris Saint-Germain to collect the Golden Shoe.

3️⃣6️⃣ goals in @LaLigaEN = #GoldenShoe 18/19 👏 Congrats, Leo! 🏆👟⚽ pic.twitter.com/Gd7OYIb2zs

— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) May 24, 2019