Christian Benteke still making shockwaves as Aston Villa favourite beats Lionel Messi to accolade

Christian Benteke was a fan favourite during three years at Aston Villa, and at 33-years-old is still finding the net

Former Aston Villa favourite Christian Benteke has finished the Major League Soccer season as leading goalscorer, beating the likes of Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez to the golden boot award.

Villa have possessed many fine attacking talents over the Premier League era, from Ollie Watkins and Jhon Duran in the current team back to the likes of Benteke a decade ago.

The Belgian, signed from Genk for a mere £7m, grabbed the Premier League by the scruff of the neck at the time and quickly became a name no opponent wished to face. A cool 23 goals in his maiden campaign saw him finish runner-up in the PFA Young Player of the Year award behind Gareth Bale.

He would go on to make 89 appearances for Villa, including in the 2015 FA Cup final, netting 42 times, before moving on to Liverpool and later Crystal Palace in the Premier League. With injuries and other factors to contend with, those times proved less fruitful in front of goal, and since 2022 the 33-year-old has been plying his trade with MLS side DC United.

And as the regular MLS season came to an end at the weekend, Benteke was confirmed as the golden boot winner with 23 goals, replicating his 2012/13 heroics in England.

Trailing him closest were three players on 20 goals, two of those being world-renowned Inter Miami duo Messi and Suarez. Unfortunately for Benteke, he will not be joining those ex-Barcelona legends in the MLS play-offs, which ultimately determine the title winners in the United States.

Inter Miami finished first in the Eastern Conference whereas DC United placed 10th, outside of top nine on goal difference. As only those top nine places make it through to the next round, added to the top nine performers from the Western Conference, it means the Belgian's season is over.

What is your favourite Benteke memory? Let us know HERE

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