Cristiano Ronaldo equalled an impressive record set by Lionel Messi earlier this season, but his longstanding rival struck back on the final day of the campaign to once again extend his milestone.
Read: Transfer Update: Ronaldo
The Argentine scored a brace on the final matchday of the LaLiga season, when FC Barcelona beat Deportivo Alaves 5-0. As a consequence, he finished the 2019/20 campaign with 25 goals in Spain's top flight.
This was enough to secure him the Pichichi trophy for the top goalscorer in Spain, but he failed to defend his European Golden Shoe title after lifting the award in the previous three campaigns.
Click through the gallery below to see some images of Barca's new Kaizer Chiefs-like away shirt:
Ronaldo, meanwhile, ended his season with 31 strikes in Serie A, and although he struck six more goals than Messi, he was beaten to the Capocannoniere title awarded to the top goalscorer in Italy, and only finished in third place in the Golden Shoe ranking.
Messi's two goals against Alaves, however, saw him extend his own record of scoring at least 25 goals in a season to 11 campaigns. Ronaldo had equalled the previous of 10 seasons in July, but will now have to wait for next season in order to try to catch Messi again.
The Argentine has now scored 25 league goals or more in 11 successive seasons, while Ronaldo has managed to net 25 or more in 10 different campaigns.
|
Season |
Ronaldo |
Messi |
|
2019/20 |
31 |
25 |
|
2018/19 |
21 |
36 |
|
2017/18 |
26 |
34 |
|
2016/17 |
25 |
37 |
|
2015/16 |
35 |
26 |
|
2014/15 |
48 |
43 |
|
2013/14 |
31 |
28 |
|
2012/13 |
34 |
46 |
|
2011/12 |
46 |
50 |
|
2010/11 |
40 |
31 |
|
2009/10 |
26 |
34 |
|
2008/09 |
18 |
23 |
|
2007/08 |
31 |
10 |
Read: Messi Linked With €260m Move
Do you think Ronaldo will be able to equal Messi's record in 2020/21 again? Have your say in the comments section below.
