BEIJING, Dec. 8 (Xinhuanet) -- One day after suffering a serious injury scare against Benfica in the final group stage game of the UEFA Champions League, a relieved Lionel Messi addressed the media on Thursday.

The Barca forward, went down hard against Benfica, clutching his left knee after colliding with the Portugese side’s keeper and was stretchered off the pitch. Thankfully, it looks like the man who is now just one goal away from breaking Gerd Miller’s all-time record for goals in a calender year will be able to continue his chase that mark, something Messi says he wasn’t sure would happen.

Lionel Messi said, "Sincerely after the pain I felt I though that it was going to be the last kick I would be able to make in a long time. And regardless the pain I tried to kick even though I didn’t have the necessary strength to lift it. At that instant I though about the worst outcome and I wanted to try to score."

Messi didn’t start the match against Benfica, but was put on in the second half as he searches for his 85th goal of 2012. However, the Argentine talent was injured while trying to score the goal that would have tied him with Der Bomber. Barcelona fans at the Camp Nou watched silently as he was carried off. It has been diagnosed as a bone bruise and nothing more, but he could miss Sunday’s league match at Real Betis which would leave him with three matches to reach the German great’s record.

Messi said, "I am not worried. Obviously it would be nice to break one and stay there in the statistics. Because this record has remained unbeaten for so many years. But it is not something that worries me much. If it happens then great and if it doesn’t happen is also okay. But we are so close to make it so we are going to try."

(Source: CNTV.cn)