Muller: I'm chuffed Messi beat my record - he's incredible

LEO SLAYER ... Messi shot down Muller record

GERD MULLER has hailed Lionel Messi as “an incredible player” after the Barcelona star broke his record for the most goals scored in a calendar year.

Germany and Bayern Munich legend Muller held the record for 40 years after bagging 85 goals in 1972.

But Messi scored twice against Real Betis last night to take his tally to 86 so far this year.

Muller said: “My record stood for 40 years — 85 goals in 60 games — and now the best player in the world has broken it, and I’m delighted for him.

“He is an incredible player, gigantic.

“He’s such a nice and modest professional and I hope he gets one or two more goals in 2012 and that he can then hold onto the record for the next 40 years.

“He’s fantastic. He only has one defect and that is that he doesn’t play for Bayern Munich!”

Messi’s Barca team-mates have also been busy paying tribute to the “supernatural” Argentinian maestro.

Gerard Pique said: “Leo is supernatural, he has no limits and we always have to remember everything that he’s given us.

“We have to enjoy him every single minute that we have him now.”

Midfielder Sergio Busquets added: “He is the best in the world and I’m very happy he’s broken that record and I hope he gets more.”