Lionel Messi says he would happily sacrifice another LaLiga top scorer award for Barcelona to regain their league crown as Argentine star collects the Pichichi Trophy for a record SEVENTH time
- Lionel Messi was presented with the Pichichi Trophy as LaLiga top scorer
- It is the seventh time the Barcelona star has won the accolade – a new record
- Messi scored 25 goals last season but Barcelona lost title race to Real Madrid
- Argentina says he would happily swap an eighth Pichichi to get their crown back
- But Barcelona already find themselves eight points off the two Madrid teams
Lionel Messi was awarded a record seventh Pichichi Trophy on Monday – but says he would sacrifice an eighth if Barcelona could regain their LaLiga title this season.
Named after the famous Athletic Bilbao striker of the early 20th century Rafael ‘Pichichi’ Moreno, the accolade is handed to the leading goalscorer in a LaLiga season.
After scoring 25 league goals in 2019-20, Messi won it for the seventh time, moving ahead of the six won by another prolific Bilbao forward, Telmo Zarra, in the 1940s and 1950s.
Lionel Messi was presented with the Pichichi Trophy for LaLiga’s top scorer on Monday night
Messi celebrates with his Barcelona team-mates after scoring against Valencia on Saturday
But after Barcelona surrendered their crown to rivals Real Madrid last season, the Argentine star said he would happily trade the award next year to be a champion again.
‘An eighth Pichichi? I don’t know, nor am I thinking about it, it is not something I am worried or obsessed about,’ Messi told newspaper Marca.
‘I would prefer to win LaLiga before getting the Pichichi, we are fighting towards that.
‘We are slowly growing. We struggled to get going in the league, nor did we deserve to drop all those points, we could have won several of those games, like at Alaves, Getafe, Real Madrid…
The Argentine star says he would happily trade his top scorer award to win LaLiga once again
Barcelona dropped more points in their title pursuit in Saturday’s 2-2 draw against Valencia
‘We created a lot of chances, that would have changed the situation, but we have to put together a run of good games to get ourselves back at the top.’
Barcelona currently find themselves fifth in the table, already some eight points adrift of leaders Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid in second place.
They were held to a 2-2 draw at home by Valencia at the weekend and have one more match before Christmas – at Real Valladolid on Tuesday night.
Ronald Koeman’s team have already lost four times in the league this season – to Getafe, Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid and Cadiz. Messi, however, is still their leading scorer with nine goals, including six in the league.
