Whenever a fan of the game watches a certain Barcelona player float around the pitch with everyone, including the opponents and his teammates, having their mouth open wide and staring at the magic happening on the pitch, you can't help but admire him - Lonel Messi -- whether you are a fan of Barcelona or not.
This generation has been lucky to be able to witness the likes of Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, two players who will go into the books as the greatest ever, as the former just created another record which everyone thought was impossible to break.
Gerd Muller's record of 85 goals in a calendar year for club and country, set 40 years ago in 1972, was just annihilated by Messi on Sunday. The Argentine scored both of Barcelona's goals in a 2-1 win over Real Betis in the La Liga to take his goal tally for 2012 to 86, with another couple of games still to go.
So, expect the record to reach 90, when it is all said and done. And if there is anybody who will be able to break that mark, it will be the little magician himself.
"I always say the same, it's nice for what it means but the victory is more important as it maintains our lead over the other teams." Messi told Spanish TV broadcaster Canal Plus.
"My goal when the year began was to try to achieve everything again, with the team, in the league, the (King's) Cup, the Champions League. I always start with that idea in mind."
That modesty is what makes Messi loved by millions around the world; the feeling you get that the Barcelona wonder is just another guy, down-to-earth, and easily accessible, but with one major quality, an ability to play football, that comes around only once in a lifetime.
Breaking down that 86 goal tally, will see a remarkable 74 for Barcelona, and 12 for his country Argentina. But it is the manner of the goals scored that will stay in the memory as much as the record. That weaving run, leaving the defenders spellbound, and wondering despite being so little why is it impossible to bring him down!
His low center of gravity and ability to run at pace with the ball at his feet is a joy to watch, as is his penchant to make the most difficult of goals look easy.
There is still one big monkey on his back, however, weighing him down. That irrepressible performance for Argentina, and inspiring them to a World Cup victory, which has set the likes of Pele and Diego Maradona apart from the rest.
Win the World Cup, and it will be hard to argue he is not the greatest player to play the game, but as things stand it is a big if. He has done and won everything possible in the club game, now only the international stage awaits.
However, people sometimes forget Messi is only 25. He will be 27 when the 2014 World Cup in Rio comes along, in his prime and possibly getting better, if that is possible.
Before that, there is 2013, and records galore to break. One thing is for sure, we are lucky to be able to witness one of the greatest footballers ever to play the game, and in particular that incomparable left foot.
Messi's goals of 2012 (and counting): Barcelona: La Liga: 56. Champions League: 13. Copa Del Rey: 3. Spanish Super Cup: 2. Total: 74
Argentina: World Cup Qualifiers: 5. Friendlies: 7. Total: 12
Grand Total: 86.
