Lionel Messi receives Golden Boot as Europe’s top scorer

Barcelona: Barcelona forward Lionel Messi has been presented with his third Golden Boot award for scoring the most goals in Europe’s domestic leagues last season.

The 26-year-old Messi helped Barcelona win the 2012-13 Spanish league title by scoring 46 goals despite missing several games with a right hamstring pull near the end of the season.

Messi also won the award for the 2011-12 season when he set a Spanish league record with 50 goals. The Argentina international earned his first Golden Boot for the 2009-10 season when his 34 goals powered Barcelona to the league title.

Messi is recovering from a left hamstring tear that will probably keep him sidelined for the rest of 2013. Before his injury, he had scored eight goals in 11 league appearances.