Gerd Muller receives Lionel Messi's jersey

Lionel Messi has sent a signed jersey of his to former football player Gerd Müller after the Argentinian broke his record for scoring the most number of goals in a year.

Müller, who netted 85 goals in 1972, saw his record being broken by Messi forty years later when the striker attained a fantastic total of 91 goals in 2012, which again lead him to winning a fourth consecutive Ballon d’Or.

Even though Muller’s record has been successfully out-ridden by Messi, it still deserves an ample amount of respect. He was the most respected striker of the 60′s – 70′s era. Muller has scored 68 goals in 62 appearances for West Germany and 365 goals in 427 appearances with Bayern Munich.

“I am very pleased and proud to receive a jersey like this from the best player in the world,” Muller told Bayern’s press office.

Muller later posed with the jersey in the German club’s office, where he announced that he’ll donate the jersey to the Bayern Munich museum. Messi’s message on the jersey read: “For Gerd Müller / My respect and admiration / A hug.”

The jersey was accompanied by a letter from President Sandro Rosell to Karl-Heinz Rummenigge. The letter said that the jersey “is an acknowledgement to Gerd Müller for what he’s done and for who he is” and he also acknowledged that Müller’s record “was a challenge for Messi to better himself.”