15 Dec 2012

Fifa not getting involved in Messi record debate

11:22 am on 15 December 2012

Football's governing body FIFA say they won't get involved in a controversy that has erupted around Lionel Messi's goal-scoring record.

The Barcelona striker scored his 85th and 86th goal of the year in his club's 2-1 win at Real Betis, breaking the record of 85 goals held previously by Germany's Gerd Mueller.

The Zambian football federation however, said that Godfrey Chitalu scored 107 goals in 1972.

FIFA spokesman Alex Stone says they don't keep domestic records.

He says the organisation didn't recognise Messi - or anybody else for that matter - as holding the record.