MESSI CLAIMS 2017 PICHICHI TROPHY

Five-time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi has added another feather to his cap after claiming his fourth Pichichi trophy of his career.


The Argentina international toppedthe La Liga’s goal scoring charts this term, scoring 37 goals to lead the pack.

He finished as the highest goal scorer in the La Liga to depose his teammate Luis Suarez from the throne. Suarez broke the Messi-Ronaldo duopoly last year when he won the award. He finishes in second place this term with 29 goals. The third attacking member of the MSN Neymar placed tenth on the scorers’ log.

Messi’s long-time rival Cristiano Ronaldo finished in third place with 25 goals this time. With his fourth Pichichi in hand, Messi moves above Ronaldo,who has won it three times, and ties level with Los Blancos legend Ferenc Puskas on four wins apiece.

Messi has scored against 19 teams in the La Liga this season. He failed to score in the 1-0 win against Granada in October and missed the return leg in April. He has outscored the 37 three times in the past: he scored 50 in 2011/12 season, 46 in 2012/13 season and 43 in the 2014/15 season. Ronaldo scored 31 goals in 30 league games but it was sufficient to claim it in 2013/14 award.

The player is set to break the all-time Pichichi record winner ex-Athletic Bilbao icon Telmo Zarra who won the awardsix times.

Many might question Neymar’s poor goals record this season. But looking through his stats, the Brazilian remains a major attacking force. He keeps creating chances for the team and his take-ons is better than that of any player in Europe.