Messi Wins Sixth Pichichi Trophy, Extends Lead in European Golden Boot Race

Aside from winning the league's top scoring award, the Barcelona star has 50 goals in all competitions and extended his lead in the European Golden Shoe race as the continent's top scorer.

May 28, 2011; London, ENGLAND; FC Barcelona player Lionel Messi celebrates with the trophy after defeating Manchester United 3-1 in the 2011 UEFA Champions League final at Wembley Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Walter Luger/GEPA via Imagn Images / GEPA/Imagn Images

This article is part of the Sports Illustrated archive. The date on this page does not represent the date when the original article was published (May 19, 2019).

Lionel Messi scored a brace in two minutes as Barcelona faced Eibar in the last day of La Liga's regular season. With the brace he secured 36 league goals and the league's Pichichi trophy, his sixth, equaling the great Telmo Zarra, who played for Athletic Bilbao between 1940 and 1955.  

Barcelona, already crowned as champion, was trailing 1-0 against the home side but Messi quickly overturned the score by scoring twice in the 31st and 32nd minute. First came a smart, low finish inside the box thanks to Arturo Vidal's pass followed by a perfectly timed run from his own half, which ended with a wonderful dink over the keeper.

Messi's 36 goals also extended his lead in the European Golden Boot race, now four goals ahead of PSG's Kylian Mbappe, who claimed his own brace against Dijon on Saturday.

It would be Messi's third straight Golden Boot and his sixth total.

Barcelona tied Eibar 2-2 as after Messi's goals, Pablo de Blasis scored a fantastic effort to equalize for the home side just before the break. 

Ernesto Valverde's side will now place its attention to next weekend's Copa del Rey final against Valencia.     

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