Messi handed fourth Golden Shoe to equal Ronaldo record

Barcelona talisman Lionel Messi drew level with Cristiano Ronaldo's tally of four European Golden Shoes after receiving the award at a ceremony on Friday.

It is the fourth time Messi has claimed the prestigious accolade, after his successes in 2010, 2012 and 2013. Ronaldo, who won the award in 2008, 2011, 2014 and 2015, scored 25 La Liga goals last season and did not make the top five.

Messi's impressive 37 goals came from 34 top-flight games and saw him top the charts ahead of Sporting CP's Bas Dost, who netted 34 in the Primeira Liga, while Borussia Dortmund's Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang rounded out the top three with 31.

Messi's Barcelona teammate Luis Suarez was the one to hand over the award having won it last season. However, he was fifth this time around with 29 goals, one fewer than Bayern Munich's Robert Lewandowski.

#Messi receives the Golden Shoe for 2016/17.
This is how he won it
#MessiIsGoldpic.twitter.com/FqSVYCrZG3

— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) 24 November 2017

"Individual awards have a collective value," Messi said at the event in Barcelona. "This prize is everybody's. Individual triumphs are all thanks to the collective."

He then gave the key to his success: "I have grown, I have improved, bringing in new aspects to my game. I enjoy every day as a player."