Berlin: Germany great Gerd Muller on Monday described Lionel Messi as a “giant” after the Argentine broke his calendar year goalscoring record that had stood for 40 years.

“My record of 85 goals in 60 matches, which stood since 1972, was beaten by the best player in the world, Lionel Messi, and I’m very happy for him,” Mueller said, according to a spokesman for his former club, Bayern Munich.

The former Germany striker added that he thought Messi was “an incredible player, a giant who is at the same time very nice and a polished professional”.

Messi, still just 25, on Sunday equalled then surpassed Muller’s record with two first-half goals that secured a 2-1 win for his side Barcelona against Seville club Real Betis, earning him plaudits around the world.

“I hope he’ll score one or two goals again in the matches that remain in 2012 and that his record will stand for the next 40 years,” added Muller, who was nicknamed “Der Bomber” (The Bomber).

Muller, who was at his peak between 1964 and 1979 but battled alcoholism since his retirement in 1981, joked that Messi only had one fault: “He doesn’t play for Bayern Munich.”

Messi has previously beaten the record for the most goals in Spain’s La Liga in a season — 50 — and is favourite to win an unprecedented fourth Ballon d’Or award in succession when the prize is announced on January 7.

At 67, Muller is by far the best goalscorer in the history of the Bundesliga with 365 in 427 matches but Miroslav Klose is one short of equalling his international goals record for the Mannschaft of 68.

On Monday, the Spanish press hailed Messi’s record-breaking 86-goal haul in 2012 and decreed Barcelona’s “Messidependence” is a blessing.

“Missile Messi. Leo leaves Torpedo Muller behind with 86 goals in a year,” cried the front page of Barcelona-based sports daily Sport.

“A Messi-anic victory,” gushed the newspaper’s columnist Josep Maria Casanovas of the Barca forward.

“We are lucky because we will always be able to say that we lived that wonderful year in which Messi scored 86 goals. It is a pleasure, a spectacle, a wonder to see the best player in the world in action,” he said.

Barcelona-based sports daily Mundo Deportivo said the team were dependent on the Argentine striker after he pushed them into winning territory in a tough match against Betis.

“Messi played. And just as well. His two goals gave Barca victory over a proud Betis,” the paper said, hailing his “stratospheric record” of goals scored in a calendar year.

“Is there an absolute ‘Messidependence’?” asked the paper’s columnist Javier Gascon. “Yes. And so what? Thanks to that Tito Vilanova’s team is leader with 14 victories and a draw in 15 match days.”

Spain’s biggest selling sports paper, Marca, agreed.

“Using the word ‘Messidependence’ has a certain negative connotation. As if Barcelona was not capable of winning games but for its star. But in Barca they take it as a blessing. Yesterday, it was,” the paper said.

“Having the Ballon d’Or in their ranks has been an undeniable privilege in the past three years,” the paper said. “To the contrary, using Leo and his ambition is very healthy when the going gets tough.”

Mundo Deportivo had a word for his team mates, too.

“The stratospheric Argentine football player has behind him a team of stars, capable of accepting an indisputible hierarchy and helping him to be better every day,” the paper said.

“Barca has the best player in the world and he has surely the best team in the world at his side.”

Messi himself said the team was key even as he celebrated the new record after the game at Betis.

“I’ve said it a lot, it’s nice to beat records but the win for the team is what is important and the points difference at the top,” said Messi as Barcelona maintained their six-point lead over Atletico Madrid and 11-point gap on Real Madrid.

“My goals are to win titles with the team, the Spanish league, Spanish Cup or Champions League is more important than any personal records.”

Barca coach Tito Vilanova looked forward to more to come from Messi, who now has 74 goals in all competitions for Barcelona this year as well as 12 for Argentina, having played 66 games in all.

His La Liga total is already up to 23 for this season alone and he can add to his year’s tally with three games still to play in 2012 — in La Liga against Atletico Madrid and Valladolid and the Spanish Cup tie at Cordoba.

“It seems impossible to score so many goals, let’s hope he can add to the record in the games to come,” said Vilanova.

Vilanova was quick, however, to dampen the euphoria surrounding his star player.

“We shouldn’t heap more pressure on him. His record this year is absolutely brutal. Let’s enjoy the moment and not focus on how many goals he might score in the future,” added the coach.