Kevin van Veen has Lionel Messi in sight as Motherwell marksman challenges the elite in Europe's top striker race

Kevin van Veen has Lionel Messi in his sights in the European Golden Shoe award table after the Motherwell goal machine swept into the top 20.

The Dutch hitman has been in outstanding form for Well recently and his strike in their weekend defeat to Dundee United took his tally to eight goals in the last five games. It was his 19th league goal of the season and enough to put him into the top 20 of the prestigious award and he's now only just behind legendary PSG icon Messi and Manchester United and England hero Marcus Rashford.

Van Veen has scored four more league goals than Messi this season, but goals in France's Ligue 1 are doubled because it's one of the big five leagues in Europe and goals in the Scottish Premiership only count for 1.5 points. Celtic star Kyogo Furuhashi is just outside the top ten with 23 goals in 11th place and would have been tenth had he not missed a penalty at Kilmarnock. But the award - formerly the Golden Boot - will certainly be won by Erling Haaland who is a long way clear of Harry Kane.

Erling Haaland (Manchester City) - 32 goals (x2) - 64 points.

Harry Kane (Tottenham) - 23 goals (x2) - 46 points.

Victor Osimhen (Napoli) - 21 goals (x2) - 42 points.

Enner Valencia (Fenerbahce) - 27 goals (x1.5) - 40.5 points.

Kylian Mbappe (PSG) - 20 goals (x2) - 40 points.

Jonathan David (Lille) - 20 goals (x2) - 40 points

Alexandre Lacazette (Lyon) - 19 goals (x2) - 38 points.

Amahl Pellegrino (Bodo/Glimt) - 25 goals (x1.5) - 37.5 points.

Folarin Balogun (Reims) - 18 goals (x2) - 36 points.

Ivan Toney (Brentford) - 18 goals (x2) - 36 points.

Kyogo Furuhashi (Celtic) - 23 goals (x1.5) - 34.5 points.

Wissam Ben Yedder (Monaco) - 17 goals (x2) - 34 points.

Robert Lewandowski (Barcelona) - 17 goals