Tottenham star Harry Kane is Europe’s top scorer for 2017 with 56 goals… but he’s miles behind Lionel Messi’s 2012 record
TOTTENHAM star Harry Kane overtook Lionel Messi to be crowned Europe's top scorer for 2017 with an astonishing 56 goals.
However, the England ace, 24, has quite a way to go to match the record, set by the Barcelona star in 2012.
That year, the Argentine magician scored a simply unreal 91 goals - 22 more than any other year this decade.
Kane overtook Messi for the year's top scorer by netting his eighth hat-trick of 2017 in Spurs' 5-2 rout of Southampton.
To put that into context, that mind-boggling tally of trebles is more than Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Robert Lewandowski, Sergio Aguero and Edinson Cavani combined.
Kane started his Boxing Day level in second place for most goals in 2017 with Ronaldo, Lewandowski and Cavani - one behind Messi.
However, he quickly drew level with the Barca star with his 22nd-minute header, before becoming the outright leader 17 minutes later.
He stuck a cherry on top on the second half when he added his third and Spurs fifth to cap off his sensational year.
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However, the stunning 56 strikes for 2017 is still the lowest "most goals" tally in Europe's Big Five leagues this decade.
The other seven seasons from 2010 to present have been shared between the usual suspects Ronaldo and Messi.
Most goals in a calendar year 2010-present
2012 - Messi - 91 goals
2013 - Ronaldo - 69
2014 - Ronaldo - 61
2010 - Messi - 60
2011 - Ronaldo - 60
2016 - Messi - 59
2015 - Ronaldo - 57
2017 - KANE - 56
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CR7's tally of 69 in 2013 is the second-highest - to Messi's 91, of course - before scoring 61 times a year later.
Messi scored 60 in 2010, with Ronaldo matching that feat in 2011, with the Barca star scoring 59 goals in all competitions last year.
Ron's tally of 57 goals in 2015 was the previous lowest "top score" of the decade.
But with all leading scorers in Europe now done for the year, Kane will not be able to add to his tally, nor will he be overtaken.
To top off his phenomenal year, Kane also broke Alan Shearer's long-standing record for most Premier League goals in a calendar year (36) in the Southampton smashing.