Messi held off competition from some of the continent's best goalscorers to pick up the prize for the third year in a row, leaving the likes of Kylian Mbappe, Fabio Quagliarella and Mohamed Salah trailing in his wake.
Cristiano Ronaldo was uncharacteristically off the pace in his first season with Juventus and will no doubt be eager to restore order with an improved haul this term.
With the race well and truly under way, Goal tallies up all the top goalscorers from across Europe's top leagues in 2019-20...
#1 Robert Lewandowski | Bayern Munich | 18 goals (36)
Robert Lewandowski has been one of the most prolific goalscorers in the world over the past decade and is well on course to surpass his tally of 22 from last season.The Poland international appears to have stepped his performances up a gear in 2019-20 and, if he can remain injury free, he will be confident of mounting a serious challenge for the Golden Shoe.#2 Ciro Immobile | Lazio | 17 goals (34)
Italy international Ciro Immobile has been one of the most consistent goalscorers in Serie A in recent years and hit the ground running in 2019-20.He was the top scorer in Italy in the 2013-14 and 2017-18 seasons, but the European Golden Shoe eluded him on those occasions, something he'll hope to redress this term.#3 Jamie Vardy | Leicester City | 16 goals (32)
Leicester City have experienced an upturn in fortunes since the arrival of Brendan Rodgers and one of the main beneficiaries appears to be Jamie Vardy.The England international looks to have revived his former self and is showing the kind of instinct in front of goal that saw him fire the Foxes to Premier League glory in 2015-16.#4 Timo Werner | RB Leipzig | 16 goals (32)
Timo Werner hit a career high of 21 Bundesliga goals in 2016-17, but failed to emulate that form in the subsequent campaigns. However, he looks to have improved in 2019-20.#5 Lionel Messi | Barcelona | 12 goals (24)
Six-time Golden Shoe winner and current trophy-holder Lionel Messi is naturally among the contenders for the 2019-20 title.The Barcelona star finished last season with 36 goals to secure his third consecutive Golden Shoe on the way to domestic glory.#6 Erling Haaland | Red Bull Salzburg | 16 goals (24)
Towering teenage striker Erling Haaland is already turning heads across Europe with his performances and has been linked with the likes of Manchester United.As well as being in the running for the Champions League top scorer, he is a surprise contender for this season's Golden Shoe.#7 Shon Weissman | Wolfsberger | 16 goals (24)
Israel international Shon Weissman joined Wolfsberger from Maccabi Haifi ahead of the 2019-20 season and is challenging Erling Haaland for the top scorer award in Austria's Bundesliga.#8 Junior Moraes | Shakhtar Donetsk | 15 goals (22.5)
Shakhtar Donetsk forward Junior Moraes struck a career high of 19 goals last season and is well on his way to matching - or surpassing - that number in 2019-20.#9 Tammy Abraham | Chelsea | 11 goals (22)
Tammy Abraham has thrust himself to the top of the pecking order at Chelsea under Frank Lampard and the England international has already reached double figures in the Premier League.Abraham surpassed the 20-goal mark twice previously in the Championship and will be eager to do it for the first time in the Premier League this season.#10 Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang | Arsenal | 11 goals (22)
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang shared the Premier League Golden Boot in 2018-19 after finding the net 22 times and he is out to better that haul this season.The Gabon international is the Gunners' go-to man for goals and he was recently rewarded with the captain's armband.#11 Karim Benzema | Real Madrid | 11 goals (22)
Having struggled for form over the course of recent years, Karim Benzema has rediscovered his striker's instinct and is back to his devastatingly clinical self.#12 Wissam Ben Yedder | Monaco | 11 goals (22)
After three goal-laden seasons in Spain with Sevilla, Wissam Ben Yedder has returned to Ligue 1 after joining Monaco and he appears to be relishing the challenge.#13 Patson Daka | Red Bull Salzburg | 14 goals (21)
While Erling Haaland has been taking most of the plaudits at Red Bull Salzburg, he is ably assisted by Zambia international Patson Daka, who has demonstrated a keen eye for goal.#14 Rouwen Hennings | Fortuna Dusseldorf | 10 goals (20)
Former Germany Under-21 international Rouwen Hennings passed his tally for the entire Bundesliga season last season in less than half the number of games and will be determined to continue his exploits for Fortuna Dusseldorf.#15 Romelu Lukaku | Inter | 10 goals (20)
Romelu Lukaku is an accomplished goalscorer entering his prime, but there is a sense that he has to prove himself once again after struggling at Manchester United.However, he has taken up the challenge commendably and is thriving with the service he is receiving from his team-mates at Inter.#16 Moussa Dembele | Lyon | 10 goals (20)
Moussa Dembele has thrived since making the decision to leave Celtic and join Lyon, becoming one of the best strikers in Ligue 1.#17 Marcus Rashford | Manchester United | 10 goals (20)
The departure of Romelu Lukaku to Inter left a gaping hole in the Manchester United attack and Marcus Rashford was expected to step into the role of Red Devils goalscorer.Rashford has not quite managed to reach the prolific heights of his England compatriot Harry Kane, for example, but he continues to find the net with regularity.#18 Joao Pedro | Cagliari | 10 goals (20)
Cagliari hit the ground running in Serie A in 2019-20 and one of their key man has been Brazilian forward Joao Pedro.#19 Christoph Monschein | Austria Vienna | 13 goals (19.5)
A key attacking player for Austria Vienna, Christoph Monschein is into double figures for the season and will have his eye on the top scorer award in Austria.#20 Danny Ings | Southampton | 9 goals (18)
Former Liverpool striker Danny Ings has flourished since leaving Anfield for Southampton and will be hoping for his best goal tally in a number of years in 2019-20.#21 Memphis Depay | Lyon | 9 goals (18)
The Lyon captain entered the Golden Shoe scoring charts with a brilliant Panenka against Nimes in December.#22 Teemu Pukki | Norwich City | 9 goals (18)
Finland international Teemu Pukki has been enjoying something of a renaissance at Norwich City and is playing with confidence against some of the best defences in the world.#23 Victor Osimhen | Lille | 9 goals (18)
The Nigeria star has made a strong start to his Lille debut, pushing on from last season's tally of 19 goals.#24 Luis Suarez | Barcelona | 9 goals (18)
Two-time European Golden Shoe winner Luis Suarez is one of the most prolific strikers on the continent and continues to show his worth for Barcelona.#25 Mohamed Salah | Liverpool | 9 goals (18)
The Liverpool forward was one of the stars of the 2018-19 season, scoring an impressive 22 Premier League goals to share the Golden Boot award.#26 Marco Reus | Borussia Dortmund | 9 goals (18)
Last season's Bundesliga Player of the Year, Germany international Marco Reus has again been among the goals as Lucien Favre's side look to end Bayern Munich's dominance of the German top-flight.#27 Sergio Aguero | Manchester City | 9 goals (18)
Manchester City's all-time record goalscorer has shown little sign of slowing down in front of goal and is on course to challenge for the Premier League Golden Boot award.Despite regularly topping City's scoring charts, the Argentina international has never managed to clinch the European Golden Shoe. Could 2019-20 be his season?#28 Habib Diallo | Metz | 9 goals (18)
Senegal international Habib Diallo scored 26 goals in Ligue 2 last season and has hit the ground running in Ligue 1 this season having previously struggled in the division.#29 Luis Muriel | Atalanta | 9 goals (18)
Former Sevilla attacker Luis Muriel spent the second half of last season on loan at Fiorentina and he made enough of an impact in that spell to convince Atalanta to fork out.The Colombia international has already repaid the Nerazzurri well and fans will be keeping their fingers crossed that he can carry the form through until the end of the campaign.#30 Harry Kane | Tottenham | 9 goals (18)
Spurs forward Harry Kane has seen injuries cost him in the race for the Premier League's Golden Boot in recent years, but the England international remains one of the games great goalscorers.#31 Cyriel Dessers | Heracles | 11 goals (16.5)
Cyriel Dessers has been one of the brightest attacking prospects in Belgium and the Netherlands in recent years. He has found his groove at Heracles this season.#32 Donyell Malen | PSV | 11 goals (16.5)
PSV forward Donyell Malen hit double figures in the Eredivisie over the entirety of last season and he has already reached that level this season.#33 Sebastian Andersson | Union Berlin | 8 goals (16)
Swedish striker Sebastian Andersson has been a consistent sharpshooter for Union Berlin and has carried his form from 2.Bundesliga into the top division.#34 Lautaro Martinez | Inter | 8 goals (16)
Argentina international Lautaro Martinez has formed a potent strike force with Romelu Lukaku at the top of Inter's attack and, having surpassed his haul from last season, is on course for his best career return in front of goal.#35 Loren Moron | Real Betis | 8 goals (16)
Loren Moron is on course for his best ever season for Real Betis from a personal perspective, having already beaten the goal tally he achieved in each of the last two campaigns.#36 Gerard Moreno | Villarreal | 8 goals (16)
Gerard Moreno is into his second season with Villarreal and looks to have settled in nicely after finally finding his scoring shoes at the club.#37 Sadio Mane | Liverpool | 8 goals (16)
The Senegal forward has been having an impressive season for the Reds once again as his side continue their status as Premier League frontrunners.#38 Raheem Sterling | Man City | 8 goals (16)
Sterling has continued his impressive form for the Citizens this season as they look to defend their Premier League title for the third consecutive season.#39 Lucas Perez | Alaves | 8 goals (16)
Perez has been impressive for Deportes Alaves in La Liga this season and scored against Real Madrid in late November.#40 Domenico Berardi | Sassuolo | 8 goals (16)
The Italy international has become a mainstay with Sassuolo, a side that he helped gain promotion to Serie A all the way back in 2012-13.#41 Jadon Sancho | Borussia Dortmund | 8 goals (16)
Sancho has impressed once again for Dortmund, the young England international netting his eighth Bundesliga goal of the season in a 4-0 win over Mainz in December.
