Mueller hails Argentine as world's best
Source: AFP |
December 11, 2012, Tuesday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
GERMANY great Gerd Mueller yesterday described Lionel Messi as a "giant" after the Argentine broke his calendar year goalscoring record that had stood for 40 years.
"My record of 85 goals in 60 matches, which stood since 1972, was beaten by the best player in the world, Lionel Messi, and I'm very happy for him," Mueller said.
The former Germany striker added that he thought Messi was "an incredible player, a giant who is at the same time very nice and a polished professional".
"I hope he'll score one or two goals again in the matches that remain in 2012 and that his record will stand for the next 40 years," added Mueller, who was nicknamed "Der Bomber" (The Bomber). Mueller, who was at his peak between 1964 and 1979 but battled alcoholism since his retirement in 1981, joked that Messi only had one fault: "He doesn't play for Bayern Munich."
At 67, Mueller is by far the best goalscorer in the history of the Bundesliga with 365 in 427 matches but Miroslav Klose is one short of equalling his international goals record for the Mannschaft of 68.
At the peak of his career when he scored the winning goal in the 1974 World Cup final, Mueller basked in the same god-like status Messi now enjoys.
But having battled alcoholism since his retirement in 1981, his public appearances are limited now to the occasional Munich match and a German television milkshake advert alongside current Bayern and Germany star Thomas Mueller.
"My record of 85 goals in 60 matches, which stood since 1972, was beaten by the best player in the world, Lionel Messi, and I'm very happy for him," Mueller said.
The former Germany striker added that he thought Messi was "an incredible player, a giant who is at the same time very nice and a polished professional".
"I hope he'll score one or two goals again in the matches that remain in 2012 and that his record will stand for the next 40 years," added Mueller, who was nicknamed "Der Bomber" (The Bomber). Mueller, who was at his peak between 1964 and 1979 but battled alcoholism since his retirement in 1981, joked that Messi only had one fault: "He doesn't play for Bayern Munich."
At 67, Mueller is by far the best goalscorer in the history of the Bundesliga with 365 in 427 matches but Miroslav Klose is one short of equalling his international goals record for the Mannschaft of 68.
At the peak of his career when he scored the winning goal in the 1974 World Cup final, Mueller basked in the same god-like status Messi now enjoys.
But having battled alcoholism since his retirement in 1981, his public appearances are limited now to the occasional Munich match and a German television milkshake advert alongside current Bayern and Germany star Thomas Mueller.
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