Ligue 1 2018-19: Kylian Mbappe edges closer to Lionel Messi in race for European Golden Shoe
The race for the European Golden Shoe is heating up, with the continent's most high-profile goalscorers jostling fiercely for the top spot.
Yesterday, Kylian Mbappe put added pressure on Lionel Messi in the race as he scored a brace in Paris Saint-Germain's 2-1 victory over Caen FC in their Ligue 1 game at the Stade Michel d'Ornano. With this win, PSG have extended their lead to 20 points at the top of the points table.
Casimir Ninga stunned PSG by giving Caen the lead in the 53rd minute, but their lead didn't last for long as Mbappe scored from the spot to level the scoreline in the 59th minute. The French international then scored his second goal of the game in the 87th minute to secure all three points for his team.
The Parisians are chasing their second consecutive title this term, and have lost just one league game so far. They have collected 71 points in 26 games, which is a new Ligue 1 record.
Mbappe has now increased his goal tally to 24 goals in the Ligue 1 after finding the back of the net twice in PSG's victory against Caen FC. The Frenchman is now just one goal behind Messi (25 goals) in the race, and five goals ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo (19 goals).
These three are followed by Krzysztof Piatek and Sergio Aguero, who have 18 goals each. Mohamed Salah, Edison Cavani and Fabio Quagliarella are also in contention to win the award, all of whom have 17 league goals.
PSG will next go up against Manchester United at the Le Parc des Princes for the second leg of the Champions League Round-of-16 tie, on March 7. They will head into the tie with a two-goal advantage.
If Mbappe keeps scoring so heavily in the league though, the duopoly of Messi and Ronaldo over the Golden Shoe might be in danger of being shattered.