Another sparkling year predicted for Lionel Messi
Published:Lionel Messi will be sad to see the back of a record-breaking 2012 which saw him net a staggering 91 goals in all competitions.
As far as the bookies are concerned though, he needn’t get too upset. Ladbrokes are envisaging another glittering year for the Argentine, anticipating his goal-haul to be in the 71-80 bracket, which can be backed as short as 6/4.
A price of 15/8 says he’ll get between 81 and 90 goals, while those who fancy him to break his own record and notch in the range of 91-100 goals in the upcoming calendar year will get paid out at 5/1.
Messi’s brilliance seems to know no bounds and, if he can stay injury free as he has developed a knack of doing, a price of 10/1 for him to bag an inconceivable tally of over 100 goals in 2013 may well be worth a punt.
The ridiculousness of the player’s ability is pretty much summed up in the 5/1 Ladbrokes are offering that he doesn’t manage to score 60 goals in the next calendar year.
If any other player on the planet (except Cristiano Ronaldo) achieved this feat it would be considered a fantastic achievement; it would be a disappointment for Messi and would come as a shock to the bookies.
With 33 goals notched prior to La Liga’s winter break, he could well be on course for another season yielding north of 70-goals, especially when you consider that he saved his best scoring form for the latter part of the 2011/12 campaign.
When he’s fit, he plays almost every game for Barcelona and, assuming 2013 is another year where injuries are scarce, the 15/8 for him to notch between 81 and 90 goals or 5/1 for 91-100 in 2013 are the only bets worth backing in this market.
All odds and markets accurate as of publication’s time and date
