FCBARCELONA.CAT

16.05.2010 22:38

Messi: Pichichi and Golden Boot

www.fcbarcelona.cat

Lionel Messi capped an incredible season as his two goals on Sunday saw him add the Pichichi trophy and the Golden Boot to the Ballon d’Or that he had already won.

The Argentinian international netted his 33rd and 34th goals against Real Valladolid to become the Spanish league’s top goalscorer and also earn him the award as Europe’s best.

Drogba and Di Natale

Messi’s incredible tally earned him 68 points in the Golden Boot charts and means that he finishes eleven points above Chelsea’s Didier Drogba and Udinese forward Antonio Di Natale, who both scored 29 league goals each.

Ronaldo record

The 34 goal mark obtained by the Barça forward also means that he equalled the club record number of league goals in a campaign which was previously reached by Brazilian Ronaldo in the 19096/97 season.

Out in front

The Pichichi win is Messi’s first and he finished way out in front of his nearest rival in La Primera, Real Madrid’s Gonzalo Higuain, who scored 27 goals.

Golden Boot ranking for the 2009/10 season.

Leo Messi (FC Barcelona), 32 goals and 68 points
Didier Drogba (Chelsea), 29 and 58
Antonio Di Natale (Udinese), 29 and 58
Gonzalo Higuaín (R. Madrid), 27 and 54
Luis Suárez (Ajax), 35 and 52,5
Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), 26 and 52