Messi, Ronaldo set to renew scoring duel

IT will be tough for Barcelona‘s Lionel Messi and Real Madrid‘s Cristiano Ronaldo taking their unprecedented scoring duel to greater heights this season after their record-breaking performances last season, but that does not mean they would not try. In the Spanish League alone, Messi scored a record 50 times last season, while Ronaldo almost kept pace with 46 goals, six more than the previous league record the Portuguese forward established the year before. ‘’I begin each season with the objective of surpassing what I have done before,’’ Messi said. ‘’I don’t try to score more goals, I try to improve as a player. I hope I still have margin to continue growing and become a better footballer.’’ Messi shattered a string of records in 2011-12. The 25-year old Argentine forward scored 73 goals overall in 60 games for Barcelona, breaking the mark of 67 set by Bayern Munich‘s Gerd Mueller in 1973 and the prior world club mark of 70 established by Archie Stark of Bethlehem Steel in the American Soccer League in 1925. He became Barcelona’s all-time leading scorer by breaking a 57-year old club milestone, and equalled a Champions League record with 14 goals. Ronaldo came close to matching Messi with 60 goals in 55 games in all competitions as he powered Madrid to the Spanish League title and its record point haul (100) and goals scored (121).