FC Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi has scored more goals in 2016 than at the same point in his world record year, in which he ended up scoring 91 goals altogether.
Read: Messi Equals Spanish Record Set By Ronaldo
The Argentine netted his third hat-trick of the calendar year on Thursday night to take his goals tally for 2016 to 20.
This means, after just 16 games since the turn of the year, Messi is now three goals ahead of his tally after 16 matches in his record year.
The 28-year-old has netted 13 strikes in La Liga, five in the Copa del Rey and another two in the UEFA Champions League – five more goals than any other player in Europe this year.
Back in 2012, he had scored 11 in La Liga, two in the Copa del Rey, and one in the Champions League, plus another three in a friendly for Argentina.
If Messi continues scoring at his current rate, he will break his own world record of 91 goals in a calendar year.
Read: Top 10 Goalscorers In Europe Update
Overall, Messi scored 12 for Argentina and incredible 79 for the Catalan giants in 2012, breaking Gerd Muller's 50-year-old record of 85 goals for Bayern Munich and Germany.
Do you think Messi will break his own world record? Have your say in the comments section below.
