Lionel Messi has become the first player to win Europe’s Golden Shoe award for three straight years after his nearest challenger Kylian Mbappe failed to score the four goals he needed in Paris St Germain’s final league match of the season on Friday.
Messi earned the honour, which goes to the leading scorer inleague matches in Europe’s top divisions, for a record-extending sixth time afterfinding the net 36 times for Barcelona, while Mbappe ended the campaign on 33goals after scoring PSG’s only goal in a 3-1 loss at Reims.
While Messi’s goal haul helped his side clinch the La Ligatitle last month the 31-year-old Argentine said earlier on Friday that he wasnot giving the Golden Shoe race much thought with the side still coming toterms with their Champions League semi-final elimination to Liverpool.
“I haven’t been thinking about that prize at all, weare still coping with what happened against Liverpool and I’m not thinkingabout personal awards,” Messi told a news conference ahead of Saturday’sCopa del Rey final against Valencia. AGENCIES