Messi Bags Record 6th European Golden Shoe
Argentine and Barcelona superstar forward Lionel Messi picked up a record-extending sixth — and third consecutive — European Golden Shoe award on Wednesday following his outstanding individual 2018-19 domestic campaign.
Messi won the trophy for a third straight year after scoring 36 goals, three more than his closest challenger, Kylian Mbappe of Paris Saint-Germain.
With 51 goals in 50 games total, it also saw him score him score at least 50 in a season for the sixth time in his career.
Having edged ahead in the Ballon d’Or/’The Best’/World Player of the Year stakes with his win earlier this year, Messi also now stands alone with a sixth Golden Shoe.
Messi’s sons Thiago and Mateo, presented their father with the trophy supervised by his wife, Antonella Rocuzzo and watched by team-mates, including Luis Suarez and Jordi Alba.
Messi emphasised that the recognition should be on the whole team without whom all the awards could not have been possible.
“Without my team-mates I wouldn’t have scored any goals, this is for everyone, it’s a recognition for the whole team.” said the humble player who has been defying records with each passing season.
He won his first in the 2009/10 season with 34 goals, in 2011/12 he scored 50 goals and the 2012/13 season saw 46 goals.
The last three Golden Shoes have all come consecutively: 2016/17 (37 goals), 2017/18 (34 goals) and 2018/19 (36 goals).
It has been said many times in the past that Messi’s achievements don’t get the recognition they deserve because he makes the extraordinary look ordinary.
Despite being one of the greatest players of all time, Messi rarely speaks about his achievements.
“I’d rather people talk about me. I know what I am, what I did and what I can give, but I keep it to myself. People can have their say. I don’t like to talk about myself, I like to talk about the collective.” Messi told Spanish publication Marca.
By Gerald Dandah
