Brazilian outfit Flamengo are set to dispute Argentine Lionel Messi’s goals in a calendar year record, claiming Zico netted 89 goals in one year in the late 70’s.
Messi broke former Germany and Bayern Munich striker Gerd Muller’s 85-goal record on the weekend with a brace against Real Betis, while he added another two goals in midweek in the Copa del Rey, taking his tally to 88.
However, Flamengo are claiming Zico scored 89 goals in one calendar year, when he netted 81 times in Brazil’s Serie A, seven times for the national team and once in a World XI exhibition match.
“We are upset, Messi has not passed his record,” Flamengo coordinator of research and statistics Lucena told Lancenet.
“If he had played the whole year, it is a certainty that he would have more than 100 goals.”
The claim comes just days after the Zambian Football Association insisted that Godfrey Chitalu had scored 107 goals in 1972.
Messi still has three more games during 2012 where he can improve his record and potentially render Flamengo’s claim irrelevant.