World Sports News in Brief

Barca's Messi receives record sixth European Golden Shoe

Barcelona forward Lionel Messi picked up a record-extending sixth - and third consecutive - European Golden Shoe award on Wednesday following his outstanding individual 2018-19 domestic campaign.

FC Barcelona's Lionel Messi receives his sixth Golden Shoe - Antiga Fabrica Estrella Damm, Barcelona, Spain - October 16, 2019 FC Barcelona's Lionel Messi poses with the golden shoe during the ceremony. (Photo: Reuters)
FC Barcelona's Lionel Messi receives his sixth Golden Shoe - Antiga Fabrica Estrella Damm, Barcelona, Spain - October 16, 2019 FC Barcelona's Lionel Messi poses with the golden shoe during the ceremony. (Photo: Reuters)

The award is presented to the top goalscorer in league football across Europe, with the Argentine finding the net 36 times last season as Barca retained their La Liga title. Messi was three ahead of nearest rival Kylian Mbappe, who scored 33 times for Paris St Germain as they won France’s Ligue 1.

* Stan Wawrinka was made to work hard at the European Open on Wednesday as the Swiss veteran outlasted Feliciano Lopez 6-7(4) 6-4 7-6(4) to reach the quarter-finals in Antwerp. Up next for the world number 18 is unseeded Gilles Simon, who powered past his French compatriot Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-4 7-5.

* The England women's team's match against Germany at Wembley Stadium next month has sold out, the FA said on Wednesday, setting up the prospect of a record crowd for a women's international in Britain. The friendly on Nov. 9 at the 90,000-seat stadium is expected to beat the previous record crowd of 80,203 who watched the 2012 London Olympic final between the United States and Japan.

* Everton midfielder Jean-Philippe Gbamin faces at least three months on the sidelines after having surgery on a tendon injury, the Premier League club said on Wednesday. The 24-year-old, who joined Everton in the close-season from Bundesliga side Mainz 05, has played only two league games this season due to the injury he sustained in training in August.

* World number four Daniil Medvedev said on Wednesday that he would return to action in Vienna next week after pulling out of the ongoing Kremlin Cup in Moscow due to exhaustion. US Open runner-up Medvedev lifted his fourth title of the season at the Shanghai Masters on Sunday, easing past Alexander Zverev 6-4 6-1, but the 23-year-old Russian said contesting his sixth consecutive final had taken a toll on his mind and body.

* The Olympic marathon and race walking events during Tokyo 2020 will be moved to Japan's northernmost island of Hokkaido from originally planned courses in the capital due to worries about heat, the International Olympic Committee said on Wednesday.

* French rider Johann Zarco will replace Takaaki Nakagami at LCR Honda for the final three races of the MotoGP season after the Japanese has shoulder surgery, the team said on Wednesday. Nakagami, 27, will have the operation after his home race at Motegi this weekend.

* Manchester United have been dealt a significant blow ahead of their weekend clash at home to Premier League leaders Liverpool, with the news that goalkeeper David de Gea is injured. De Gea suffered a groin injury in the 59th minute of Spain's 1-1 draw away to Sweden on Tuesday night.

Reuters, Xinhua