Lionel Messi has widened the gap on Mohamed Salah in the European Golden Shoe race, with the Liverpool star now needing a goal feast in his final Premier League game of the campaign to keep his chances of becoming the first African to lift the award alive.
Tired of reading? Click through the gallery above to see the leading candidates in this season's Golden Shoe race.
The Argentine scored once in his side's thrilling 2-2 draw in the latest El Clasico, taking his tally to 33 LaLiga goals for the season. Salah, meanwhile, failed to find the back of the net in Liverpool's 1-0 defeat to Chelsea, which means he has now scored only two league goals over the past five game weeks.
Messi's 33 goals equate to 66 points in the European Golden Shoe race, while Salah's 31 strikes equate to 62 points.
Not only does the FC Barcelona superstar hold a two-goal cushion over his closest rival, he also has the advantage of playing another three LaLiga games, while Salah has only one league match left.
The Egyptian needs a goal feast against Brighton Hove Albion in Liverpool's final game of the season to keep his chances of lifting the prestigious award alive.
Salah could become the first African to lift the European Golden Shoe, while Messi seems destined to win it a record-breaking fifth time. He is currently the joint-most crowned player in terms of Golden Shoes, having lifted the accolade four times so far – as many as longstanding rival Cristiano Ronaldo.
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The Portuguese seems out of the running for this season's Golden Shoe, however, as he has only 25 LaLiga goals so far – eight strikes and 16 points behind Messi.
Do you think Salah can still beat Messi to the Golden Shoe? Have your say in the comments section below.
