Lionel Messi: Pichichi in LaLiga and soon to be the Golden Shoe winner?
The Barça captain will claim both prizes unless PSG's Mbappé scores five against Reims next Friday
FC Barcelona forward Leo Messi finished the 2018/19 LaLiga with yet another fine performance against Eibar. He grabbed a brace in less than two minutes to secure his sixth Pichichi trophy and moved on step closer to earning his sixth Golden Shoe award.
Messi, who is the top scorer in the history of LaLiga with 419 goals in 452 matches, won his sixth Pichichi trophy to match the achievement of Telmo Zarra (Athletic) in 1944-45, 1945-46, 1946-47, 1949-50, 1950-51 and 1952-53. Barça's number ‘10’ won his in 2009-10 (34 goals), 2011-12 (50), 2012-13 (46), 2016-17 (34), 2017-18 (36) and 2018-19 (36). He moved ahead of Alfredo Di Stéfano, Enrique Castro ‘Quini’ and Hugo Sánchez who all have five to their name.
More awards incoming
The two goals he scored in Ipurua moved Messi closer to his sixth Golden Shoe as well. Although the winner won't be confirmed until the season is over, Messi has four goals - and 8 points - more than second placed Kylian Mbappe, who plays his final match of the season on Friday against Reims.
PSG's top striker has 32 goals (64 points) and with one game to go. For Messi to miss out on the award Mbappe would need to score five in his last match. If he falls short and only manages four, the trophy could be shared. Cristiano Ronaldo, the closest active player to Messi's total, is stuck on four Golden Shoe awards.
Messi's double against Eibar was his 124th brace with Barça (86 of those coming in LaLiga. He's scored five in one match, four goals five times and 39 hat-tricks for Barcelona. He's one of a kind.
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