The record that Lionel Messi snatched in 2019

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He finished the competition for Lionel Messi in 2019: he is already in his native Rosario to spend the Holidays with his family and on January 4 he will return to action with Barcelona in the classic against Espanyol, by date 19 of the League of Spain. The Flea closed the year in a state of grace: he left the team culé at the top of the Iberian contest (with 39 units, two more than Real Madrid) and qualified him to the knockout stages of the Champions League, instance in which he will face to the Napoli of Italy.

Over the 12 months, the striker Rosario scored 50 goals in 58 games, a shocking figure. However, it did not reach him to be the top scorer of 2019, as he had achieved in 2018 with similar numbers (51 conquests in 54 presentations). The one who snatched the crown of scorer of the year within the select group of those who play in European football was Robert Lewandowski. The powerful attacker, who had finished third on the payroll in 2018, was uncovered with 54 celebrations in 58 games between his performances at Bayern Munich and the selection of Poland, and has the record guaranteed at 99.99%: the only one He has mathematical chances to dethrone him is Raheem Sterling (Manchester City and England), who has two games ahead of him before the year ends - in front of Wolverhampton on 27 and against Sheffield United on 29 -, although to reach his opponent he has to score ... 13 goals.

Kylian Mbappé appears third on the payroll, with 44 goals in 59 games. And Cristiano Ronaldo, figure of Juventus? He closed 2019 with 39 points in 50 duels; under the aforementioned Sterling. In addition to 2018, Messi had managed to be the top gunner of the calendar year in 2012 (91 goals in 69 games; an unrepeatable performance) and in 2010 (60 in 64). In 2017 he was about to keep the honor, but Harry Kane signed a triplet with the Tottenham in his last presentation and snatched the scepter (rounded out 56 conquests, against 54 of the Flea).

Beyond the fact that due to an age issue (he is 32 years old), he dosed the energies to maintain his validity, the Argentine star suffered two muscular injuries after returning from his post-Copa América vacations in Brazil, which resulted in his participation. However, he fought, but this time the top scorer of the year was left for Lewandowski, who also accumulates 10 goals in the Champions League, becoming the top scorer of the group stage.

Of course, it is not a cause for concern for Messi, who has just won the Best Awards (awarded by FIFA) and the Ballon d'Or (awarded by France Football magazine) as the best player of 2019. And by 2020 he holds a a lot of challenges, with the Champions League, which Barcelona has not celebrated since 2015, and the Copa América with Argentina as the main motivations.