'Martian' Messi close to Argentina record

"When Leo takes the record from me, it will hurt a little. But it's not just anyone taking it away. It's not a normal person. A Martian is taking it from me. That makes me feel a little better," Batistuta told Argentine newspaper La Nacion.

The 47-year-old striker scored 54 goals for Argentina from 1991 to 2002, not counting two he chalked up against Slovakia in 1995 in a match that FIFA later ruled unofficial for record-keeping purposes.

Messi currently has 50 goals for the national team. The 28-year-old Barcelona star last month scored his 500th career goal.

Batistuta defended the five-time World Player of the Year against the criticism he has received in Argentina for failing to lead the country to its first World Cup title since 1986.

"He plays 70 matches a year and wouldn't need to come here to get cursed out playing for the national side. But he's hungry, and even though he's already won 200 things, he comes. Messi is a winner," he said.