Lionel Messi's goal in FC Barcelona's 2-0 final victory against Manchester United FC capped a memorable season for the mercurial forward and ensured he ends with yet another personal accolade having finished as top scorer in the UEFA Champions League.
Eight goals
The Argentinian international managed nine goals in eleven games to take the crown from Cristiano Ronaldo, who last term had edged Messi into joint second alongside Didier Drogba, Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres. This time, the 21-year-old has prevailed ahead of Liverpool FC's Gerrard and Miroslav Klose of FC Bayern München, both on seven goals, one more than FC Porto's Lisandro. Six players netted five goals, including Messi's club-mate Thierry Henry.
All-time high
Messi was, however, unable to match the all-time European Champion Clubs' Cup record haul of 14 goals in a season, shared by José Altafini (AC Milan, 1962/63) and Ruud van Nistelrooy (Manchester United FC, 2002/03). He nonetheless becomes the first Argentinian to top-score in Europe's élite competition since ten-goal Alfredo di Stéfano (Real Madrid CF, 1957/58). Current Madrid striker Raúl González remains the European Cup's leading marksman with 64 goals, four clear of team-mate Van Nistelrooy, with Andriy Shevchenko on 56.
Manchester United vs Barcelona 2009 : Messi sweeps up goalscoring honours
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Wednesday, May 27, 2009
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