Lionel Messi can win Pichichi by 10 goals, feels Barcelona coach Luis Enrique
Lionel Messi can win the Pichichi race by ten clear goals if he so wishes, according to Barcelona boss Luis Enrique. The Spaniard, fresh off overseeing the longest unbeaten run in all competitions by a La Liga club, feels that Messi’s team ethic prevents him from being unselfish and chase the Pichichi award, opting to focus on team trophies.
Speaking ahead of the La Liga clash with Eibar, Enrique was effusive in his praise for Messi, saying “I think that he can do it [win the Pichichi] and be clear of the runner-up by 10 goals. But he looks focused on winning team trophies, which makes me optimistic.”
“When you win things as a team, the individual things arrive. In this sense, the players are intelligent and focused on achieving the objectives as a group.”
Despite missing 2 months of the season with a knee injury, Leo Messi has steadily climbed up the La Liga goal-scoring charts ever since his comeback, and is now in third place, level with Karim Benzema, while Cristiano Ronaldo and Luis Suarez lead the charts.
| Player | Goals |
|---|---|
| Cristiano Ronaldo | 27 |
| Luis Suarez | 25 |
| Lionel Messi | 19 |
| Karim Benzema | 19 |
| Neymar Jr | 18 |
Messi will be best in the world for as long as he wants – Enrique
Luis Enrique doesn’t feel that Lionel Messi is the only unselfish player of his group, as he lauded Luis Suarez similarly. The Uruguayan was leading the Pichichi charts before Cristiano Ronaldo’s quadruple against Celta Vigo, despite having missed a penalty against Rayo Vallecano, one that he took in spite of Messi being on a hat-trick.
Some in the Spanish press termed that as a selfish act, although Luis Enrique immediately shot down that notion, saying “I see Suarez focusing on winning titles; on making history with Barça.”
As for Messi, Luis Enrique is of the opinion that the world of football will be witness to the Argentine’s brand of magic for as long as he wants, saying “[Messi] will be the best player in the world for as long as he wants to be, but age affects everyone. I would like to see him as the best at 40, too, but I'm a football manager, not a fortune teller.”
Whatever Enrique’s opinion, the race for the Pichichi is bound to hot up as Barcelona take on Eibar in the La Liga on Sunday.