Don't wait 30 years - sign up for our daily football email newsletter today! Sign up Thank you for subscribing See our privacy notice Invalid Email

(Image: GETTY)

The Manchester United striker could have levelled Messi’s 51 calendar goals in 2016 had the goal stood.

But referee Lee Mason ruled that Ibra’s goal was illegal after he clipped goalkeeper Victor Valdes with a high leg on the follow-through to his shot.

Speaking after the game, the Swedish striker said of the record: “That was not important, the important thing was to win.

“When you suffer like that, losing 1-0, you just want to get the win to be happy.

“If I can ever help the team win, I will do everything. I am not worried about the goal, the win is the same if I beat Messi or not.”

Although Ibra said he didn’t understand the decision to disallow the goal.

(Image: GETTY) (Image: GETTY)

“We were losing 1-0 and we should have had a goal that I scored,” he added. “Why he [the referee] whistled I don’t know because at first he gave the goal and after thirty seconds he did not.

“I don’t know why he changed his mind and I couldn’t speak to him because I would have got a yellow card.

“We kept playing and we conceded a goal, but we worked hard and managed to get level and then lead within one minute.”