Picking the outright brightest star is never easy, and sometimes blinding.

The final shortlist for #SOTW included…

Max Kruse (Ingolstadt vs Werder Bremen**) {German Bundesliga} – for scoring four goals, including a late hat-trick to bring Ingolstadt from a losing position to a 4-2 victory over Werder Bremen.

Cedric Bakambu (Villarreal* vs Leganes) {Spanish La Liga} – for scoring a late goal to restore the lead he gave Villarreal in their victory over Leganes.

Ciro Immobile (LAzio** – Palermo) {Italian Serie A}  – for contributing two early goals to guide Lazio to a convincing victory over Palermo.

Balde Diao Keita (Lazio** – Palermo) {Italian Serie A} – for scoring a hat-trick that gave Lazio a comprehensive victory over Palermo.

Kylian Mbappe Lottin (Lyon – Monaco**) { French Ligue 1} – for giving Monaco the winning goall that keeps them in pole position in the league standings.

But the SOTW will have to go to

Lionel Messi

(Real Madrid – Barcelona**)  {Spanish La Liga)

For scoring his 500th goal for Barcelona which also happens to be the winning goal in the El Classico.  It is a victory that tightens up the title race and improves Barcelona’s chances of upsetting Real Madrid and defending the league title.