Barcelona striker Lionel Messi has broken German Gerd Mueller's record for goals in a European season after taking his tally to 68.

Barcelona's triple Ballon d'Or-winner Lionel Messi broke Gerd Mueller's record for goals in a European season here on Wednesday as he scored a hat-trick in the game with Malaga to take his tally to 68.

The 24-year-old Argentinian's eighth hat-trick of the season was enough to overhaul Mueller's record, which the German striker set while playing for Bayern Munich in the 1972-73 season.

Messi's treble also took his tally in La Liga to 46 goals, three more than Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo, who plays later when his side can wrap up the title with a win over Athletic Bilbao.