Roma striker Francesco Totti has won the European Golden Boot award.
The 30-year-old scored 26 times for his club to finish one goal ahead of Real Madrid's Ruud van Nistelrooy.
Totti played the entire season with a metal pin in his ankle, a result of an injury he picked up prior to Italy winning the World Cup last summer.
Totti said: "A year ago everyone was writing me off, saying I was finished, but now I am a World Cup winner and top goalscorer. It was meant to be."
The Golden Boot is decided on a points system, which is weighted according to the relative strength of each of Europe's leagues.
Totti's 26 goals in the Italian top flight gave him 52 points, two points ahead of Van Nistelrooy, who scored 25 times for Real.
"Van Nistelrooy is a great player and fought until the end"
Van Nistelrooy could have got level with Totti in Real's last game of the season against Real Mallorca on Sunday, but he limped off injured after just 33 minutes.
"I feel sorry for Van Nistelrooy," added Totti.
"I can imagine how bitter he must have felt, but he is still a great player and deserves full respect for fighting until the end."
Totti became the second successive Italian to win the award after Fiorentina striker Luca Toni last year.
Totti has not played for the Italian national side since the World Cup to take a break from international football.
But he has hinted he might be willing to return to play for coach Roberto Donadoni as they seek to qualify for Euro 2008.
"In July, I will telephone team manager Gigi Riva and I will tell him how I am and what I am thinking of doing. Then we will see," said Totti earlier this month.
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