Messi Scores A Brace, Beats Real Madrid’s Superstar To Win La Liga Golden Boot (Video)

Lionel Messi scored a brace in Barcelona’s final La Liga game of the 2019-20 season on Sunday, July 19, to clinch his seventh Golden Boot ahead of Real Madrid’s Karim Benzema.

Benzema, who moved from Lyon to Real Madrid 2009, never won La Liga’s Golden Boot, but had come close to finally winning one this season. He scored 21 goals in 37 La Liga appearances this campaign, but Messi netted 25 goals, out of which two came during Barcelona’s last match of the season that the Catalans won 5-0 against Alaves.

The Alaves fixture was not important as Real Madrid had already been crowned the La Liga champions for the 2019-20 campaign. However, Messi needed to score as his Pichichi Trophy was at threat with Benzema in excellent form when the Spanish league returned after the coronavirus break June.

Barcelona’s wonderkid Ansu Fati opened the scoring of the match by finding the back of the net at the 24th minute. Ten minutes later, Messi made it 2-0. He once again scored in the second half, while the other goals were scored by Luis Suarez and Nelson Semedo.

This is the first time La Liga's top scorer has scored fewer than 30 goals since Mallorca's Daniel Guiza 12 years ago, according to BBC Sport. The Spanish forward had finished the 2007-08 La Liga campaign with 27 goals from 37 appearances, but his achievement was a tad special because he had clinched the feat without a single penalty kick.

Messi has not only scored the most number of goals in the 2019-20 season, but also has provided the most number of assists. With 20 assists to his name this edition, Messi has surpassed his former teammate Xavi Hernandez in the record of most assists in a single season.

Barcelona’s Xavi had set up 20 goals during the 2008-09 season and by assisting Fati’s goal against Alaves, Messi bagged a record 21st assist of the 2019-20 La Liga season.

Barcelona’s next focus is the UEFA Champions League. They next host Napoli Aug. 8 in the last-16 second leg, having drawn the first one 1-1 Italy.