FCBARCELONA.CAT

12.04.2010 13:10

Messi leads chase for Golden Boot

Jordi Clos

With 27 goals, Leo Messi is top of the Golden Boot lists, having overtaken main rival Rooney, and also moving clear of Drogba, Luis Suárez and Higuaín.

Messi opened the scoring at the Bernabéu, and is on course to the top goalscorer in the whole of Europe. The Argentinian has been on target 27 times in 31 games, and his recent form has been especially stunning. He has scored 11 goals in the last eight outings, with hat-tricks against both Valencia and Zaragoza.

Rooney and Drogba on 26 and 25

Wayne Rooney of Manchester United is having fitness problems, and played no part in side’s draw with Blackburn Rovers. He is left on 26 goals in 34 games, one more than Didier Drogba, the other prime candidate, Chelsea’s Ivorian is in hot form, and is now Messi’s biggest rival.

33 goals for Luis Suárez

Next in the list is Ajax striker, Luis Suárez, who has 33 goals, but goals in the Dutch league only count 1.5, unlike those in the major leagues, where they count 2. So Suárez has 49.5 points, compared to Messi’s 54 (27 x 2). Next in the list in Madrid’s Gonzalo Higuaín, with 24 goals.