Messi receives Golden Boot as Europe’s top scorer
Barcelona forward Lionel Messi was presented with a record third Golden
Boot on Wednesday for scoring the most goals in Europe's domestic
leagues last season.
The 26-year-old Messi helped Barcelona win
the 2012-13 Spanish league by scoring 46 goals despite missing several
games with a right hamstring pull near the end of the season.
Messi also won the award for 34 goals in 2009-10, and a Spanish record 50 in 2011-12.
The first player to receive the award three times, Messi dedicated his
latest trophy to his family and his teammates, calling it a team award.
“This is a beautiful award that goes to the entire squad for what it
has done,” Messi said. “It is a group award more than an individual one
because those are a lot of goals. I wouldn't have won it without them,
this one or the previous ones.”
Messi is recovering from a left
hamstring tear that will probably keep him sidelined for the rest of
2013. It was his third leg injury of the season. Before his latest
injury, he had eight goals in 11 league appearances.
After
receiving the trophy from former Barcelona star Hristo Stoichkov, Messi
said his leg was feeling better while remaining cautious about rushing
back.
Several teammates, including Cesc Fabregas, Xavi
Hernandez and Carles Puyol, along with club president Sandro Rosell were
in attendance.
Messi has won the world player of the year
award an unprecedented four years in a row. He is again nominated this
year, but he has tough competition from Real Madrid rival Cristiano
Ronaldo and Bayern Munich star Franck Ribery.
Messi has played a
major part in Barcelona's impressive run of titles over the past
decade. He has won three Champions Leagues, six Spanish leagues, two
Copas del Rey, two Club World Cups, six Spanish Super Cups and two
European Super Cups.