FCBARCELONA.CAT

09.03.2010 12:40

Messi third in hunt for Golden Boot

Jesús Carrillo

The Argentinian is Barça’s top scorer with 26 goals in 35 games, and is on course for a personal record, which also puts him third in the Golden Ball list.

Leo Messi has been on stunning form with 26 goals in La Liga (19), the Champions League (2), the Spanish Super Cup (2), the Copa del Rey (1) and the Clubs World Cup (2). The only tournament he did not score in was the European Super Cup against Shaktar Donetsk in Monaco.

19 league goals

Last season, Messi scored 23 times in the 31 games he played. But with 13 games still to play, and as long as injuries are kind to him, he is likely to top that tally, for he has already made it to the impressive total of 19.

Leo Messi was the top goalscorer in the Champions League last season with 9, but this year he only been on target twice in Europe, with both goals coming against Dynamo Kiev.

Twelve off all-time record

Leo Messi scored 38 goals in the 51 games he played in all competitions last season. So, he is just 13 goals of beating his personal best, and has a minimum of 14 games to do that in, with 13 left in the League, and at least one in the Champions League against Stuttgart, but hopefully more.

So, if FCB go all the way to the final and Messi is involved in those matches, then he could have as many as 19 games left to play.

Golden Ball beckoning

It all means Messi is a serious candidate for the Golden Ball award for Europe’s top scorer. Wayne Rooney, of Man United, currently leads the chase with 23 goals in 27 games, making 46 points. Second comes Uruguayan Luis Suárez of Ajax, with 26 goals and 39 points, with Messi third with 38 points, a position he shares with Ivorian Didier Drogba of Chelsea. Messi is the only player in the running who is not a centre forward.