Lionel Messi has returned to the top of the AP Global 10 football rankings by breaking Pele's 54-year-old goal-scoring record, while Bayern Munich's stunning form propelled the German side to the top of the team list.
In The Associated Press' weekly rankings, Messi finished far ahead of his closest rival, Mexican striker Javier Hernandez, who was in goal-scoring form for Manchester United over the past week. Messi is just 10 goals away from breaking the all-time calendar-year record set by Germany's Gerd Muller in 1982.
"Messi's got to take top spot after yet another milestone,'' said panelist James Porteous of The South China Morning Post in Hong Kong. "Passing Pele's record of 75 goals in a calendar year with his brace against Mallorca. Ten goals in 10 games required to overtake Gerd Muller's mark of 85 and you'd have to fancy him to achieve it.''
Mike McGrath of Britain's Wardles News Agency and The Sun newspaper, said: "If there was any argument about Lionel Messi being the best player in the world, beating Pele's record puts that beyond any doubt. He is setting new standards of brilliance every week.''
Each panelist in the AP poll gives 10 points for his player of the week, dropping to one point for his 10th choice. The same applies for global club teams. Panelists are football journalists from around the world.
Juventus striker Fabio Quagliarella thrust his way into third place by scoring four goals in the past two games.
