Barcelona striker Lionel Messi won his fifth European Golden Shoe when his team beat Real Sociedad 1-0 in the final of La Liga match of this season. The Argentine player won the award with 34 goals, for a total of 68 points during the 2017-2018 season. Messi had also won the award last year, as well as in 2010, 2012 and 2013, and is the only player to do so five times.
The award is given based on a points system, in which goals by the English, German, Spanish, Italian and French leagues account for two points each. Scores by Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Croatia, Scotland, Greece, Netherlands, Russia, Serbia, Israel, Norway, Poland, Switzerland, Turkey, Portugal, and Ukraine are worth 1.5 points. Goals by other European leagues are awarded only one point.