Football Notes: Messi On The Stand Against Alleged Flamengo Record

Brazilian club Flamengo "may challenge Lionel Messi's calendar year record, saying that former Brazil captain Zico scored 89 goals in '79." Barcelona's Messi scored his 87th and 88th goals of the year "having thought he had broken Gerd Müller's '72 record of 85 on Sunday." Flamengo Head of Research and Statistics Bruno Lucena said, "We are upset. Messi still hasn't passed the milestone" (REUTERS, 12/12). ... Malaysia's FA said that it "had protested after Thailand provided a run-down training pitch" for the Suzuki Cup clash. Malaysia team official Subahan Kamal called it a "paddy field" (AFP, 12/12).