Lionel Messi Equals Gerd Muller and Eusebio’s Record With Seventh Pichichi Trophy
Lionel Messi finished the domestic campaign as league’s highest goal-scorer with 25 strikes, which saw him win his seventh Pichichi Trophy, going one clear of Alfredo di Stefano and Telmo Zara as La Liga’s top scorer more times than anyone in the history. In doing so, the Barcelona captain tied the European record held by footballing legends Gerd Muller and Eusebio.
Lionel Messi ended the La Liga 2019-20 season on a high as with his brace and assist against Deportivo Alaves in the final game, the Argentine created a plethora of records. The 33-year-old finished the domestic campaign as league’s highest goal-scorer with 25 strikes, which saw him win his seventh Pichichi Trophy, going one clear of Alfredo di Stefano and Telmo Zara as La Liga’s top scorer more times than anyone in the history. A Look at All Records Created by Lionel Messi in La Liga 2019–20 Season.
In doing so, the Barcelona captain tied the European record held by footballing legends Gerd Muller and Eusebio. The trio now have the most scoring titles won by any player in Europe’s top leagues with seven each. Gerd Muller was a seven-time top scorer of the German league with Bayern Munich while Eusebio won the Portuguese league's highest goal-scorer award seven times with Benfica. Lionel Messi Wins Pichichi Trophy For Seventh Time in His Career.
Jimmy Greaves, who played for the likes of Chelsea, West Ham and Tottenham Hotspur, has been the highest scorer on six different occasions in the English league. Gunnar Nordahl (the most in Italy), Carlos Bianchi, Delio Onnis, and Jean-Pierre Papin (all tied for the most in France), and Ruud Geels (the most in the Netherlands) have all won it five times.
Lionel Messi was far from his best this season but still managed some extraordinary individual numbers in the domestic league. The 33-year-old with his 22 assists overtook former team-mate Xavi for the most number of assists in a single La Liga season.
Along with this, the 33-year-old also became the first player since Thierry Henry in 2003 for Arsenal, to reach the 20-figure mark in both goals and assists in the top five European leagues in a single season.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 22, 2020 12:56 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).