Most notably, his 91 goals set a mark for goals in a calendar year, surpassing Gerd Muller's 40-year-old record of 85.

WSJ: Messi's Fourth Ballon d'Or Surprises No One

Bosnia's Dzeko and Brazil's Grafite have scored 54 goals between them this season to break the previous record set by Bayern Munich's Gerd Muller and Uli Hoeness in the 1970s.

CNN: Wolfsburg win first German league title

Messi ended the year with 91 goals to his name as he beat the previous record mark of goals scored in a calendar year -- the 85 converted by Germany's Gerd Muller in 1972.

CNN: Messi crowned world's best for record fourth time