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The Player Who Scored More Than Cristiano Ronaldo And Lionel Messi In 2018

The Player Who Scored More Than Cristiano Ronaldo And Lionel Messi In 2018

The Algerian striker was the most prolific in top flight football in the world last year, beating the two five time Ballon d'Or winners.

Ryan Sidle

Ryan Sidle

Lionel Messi ended 2018 ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo when it came to goals scored in the calendar year but the Barcelona forward was beaten to the title of the year's top scorer by Baghdad Bounedjah.

Since 2008 the name on the European Golden Shoe trophy has been either Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo. It's not quite the domination of the Ballon d'Or, with Diego Forlan and Luis Suarez managing wins, but it's still impressive.

Right now Messi, who is on five wins to Ronaldo's four, isn't top of the European list for this season but with his 15 goals this season he is just one point behind Liliu.

The Brazilian forward plays in the Estonian league with Nomme Kalju FC. The level of the league means Liliu's goals are worth one point per strike whereas Messi gets two per goal. Ronaldo isn't too far behind his rival 28 points from 14 goals.

As well as being ahead of his rival for the season Messi also outscored Ronaldo in the calendar year, bagging 51 to the Juventus' forward's 49 goal year.

However neither men is top of the charts for 2018. Algerian striker Baghdad Bounedjah, who plays in Qatar for Al Sadd scored an incredible 59 goals in 12 months.

Bounedjah has outscored everyone, impressive stuff. Image: PA Images
Bounedjah has outscored everyone, impressive stuff. Image: PA Images

The 27 year old's goals have put his side after 15 games and though they're only two points clear of their closest challengers his goals means their goal difference is over twice that of second places.

It's no wonder than Bounedjah is top striker when he's got both Xavi and former Atletico Madrid midfielder Gabi behind him creating chances for him to put away.

The striker bagged 13 goals in the Asian Champions League, getting the side to the semi-finals, and has also scored seven goals in one game against Al Arabi this season.

Baghdad on the ball. Image: PA Images
Baghdad on the ball. Image: PA Images

Whilst most people in England wouldn't have heard of the striker his form for club and country, he scored six in eight in the African Cup of Nations qualifiers, haven't gone totally unnoticed.

He was wanted at Leeds United by manager Marcelo Bielsa. That move now seems unlikely with the Algerian recently signing a new deal in Qatar.

Messi and Ronaldo will be happy to see him stay out of Europe otherwise they'll be no European Shoe this time.

Featured Image Credit:

Topics: Xavi, Football News, Barcelona, Goals, Lionel Messi, Juventus, Cristiano Ronaldo

Ryan is a writer for SPORTbible. He covers all sport from football, formula one, cricket, rugby, tennis, athletics, mma and wrestling. He obviously hates YOUR football team and has no interest in synchronised swimming.

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@Sidler28