No daylight between Messi and Ronaldo
Monday, March 26, 2012
Article summary
There is nothing to choose between 35-goal pair Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, both of whom scored at the weekend, at the top of the ESM Golden Shoe standings.
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Europe's standout goalscorers both broke records in finding the net this weekend as they extended their joint lead at the top of the ESM Golden Shoe standings.
Cristiano Ronaldo fired a double in Real Madrid CF's 5-1 defeat of visitors Real Sociedad de Fútbol on Saturday to become the fastest player to reach a century of Spanish Liga goals. Not to be outdone, on the same day Lionel Messi broke FC Barcelona's club best for number of league goals in a season – set by former Brazil striker Ronaldo – as he hit his 35th of the campaign in a 2-0 Blaugrana win at RCD Mallorca. Spain's leading two marksmen are inseparable in the rankings, with 35 goals and 70 points each.
Elsewhere, Burak Yılmaz was on target as Trabzonspor AŞ drew 1-1 at Galatasaray AŞ, moving the Turkey forward into fourth position, while Mario Gomez (FC Bayern München) and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar (FC Schalke 04) increased their tallies to 23 and 22 respectively.
Level on points with Huntelaar in seventh is Zlatan Ibrahimović, who maintained his fine form with both goals in AC Milan's 2-1 victory against AS Roma.
ESM Golden Shoe standings: 26 March 2012
1= Lionel Messi (FC Barcelona) 35 x 2 = 70
1= Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid CF) 35 x 2 = 70
3. Robin van Persie (Arsenal FC) 26 x 2 = 52
4. Burak Yılmaz (Trabzonspor AŞ) 31 x 1.5 = 46.5
5= Aleksandrs Čekulajevs (JK Trans Narva) 46 x 1 = 46
5= Mario Gomez (FC Bayern München) 23 x 2 = 46
7= Klaas-Jan Huntelaar (FC Schalke 04) 22 x 2 = 44
7= Zlatan Ibrahimović (AC Milan) 22 x 2 = 44
9. Wayne Rooney (Manchester United FC) 20 x 2 = 40
10. Seydou Doumbia (PFC CSKA Moscow) 26 x 1.5 = 39
Rules
Only the leading five countries – Spain, Italy, Germany, France and England – in the UEFA rankings have two as their multiplier. This is to emphasise the difference in (international) performance level between clubs from those countries and those of other nations.
A player cannot play first in a summer league (e.g. Norway) and then in a winter league (e.g. Spain) and combine the points totals for each season.