Messi's final target of 2019 Barcelona Can finish the year on a high

Barcelona bring to an end their 2019 with a home fixture against Alaves on Saturday afternoon and Lionel Messi has yet another record in his sights.

Saturday could see him finish as the top goalscorer in European football for 2019.

At the present moment he leads the table with his tally of 33 goals scored in LaLiga Santander since last January started, yet Robert Lewandowski is rapidly closing in.

The Polish international will play one further match in 2019 before heading for groin surgery and, if he is able to score twice against Wolfsburg, then he will draw level with Messi on 33.

Kylian Mbappe is four goals behind the Argentine, whilst Leicester City's Jamie Vardy has enjoyed a phenomenal start to the 2019/20 season and this has left him just five goals adrift of the Ballon d'Or winner.

It would be helpful for Messi's case if he were able to find the net at least once at the Camp Nou on Saturday afternoon, especially after he drew blanks against both Real Sociedad and Real Madrid.

Even if he doesn't, he could still win the award by not scoring another goal in 2019.