Named after Athletic Bilbao legend Rafael “Pichichi” Moreno, each year, the top goalscorer in La Liga is fittingly presented with the prestigious Pichichi award. And just like in every other La Liga season, the present campaign has also thrown up the names of some usual suspects to win this famous accolade.
The 2019-20 edition of La Liga has been a roller coaster of a ride till now, with Barcelona leading the pack with 58 points after the completion of 27 matches, only two points ahead of their arch-rivals Real Madrid. Both Barcelona and Real Madrid have somehow missed several opportunities to firm their grip in the title race, while teams like Atlético Madrid, Sevilla, and Real Sociedad have suffered from terrible inconsistency.
However, when it comes to finding the back of the net on regular occasions, the league’s top marksmen didn’t disappoint us at all. Besides, players from the mid-table clubs have also demonstrated their potency in front of goal and are in the mix to win this year’s Trofeo Pichichi.
So, in the midst of COVID-19’s hold on football, we take a look at the top three contenders for this year’s Pichichi accolade.
#3 Luis Suárez
Despite being sidelined since early January, Luis Suárez remains the third-favourite to win this year’s Golden Boot in La Liga. The Barcelona striker went under the knife in the month of January after struggling for several months with a meniscus problem on his right knee. However, the ongoing halt in the season due to the COVID-19 pandemic has given El Pistelero the chance to recover in time before the return of La Liga action.
The 33-year-old forward has already racked up 11 goals in just 15 appearances this season and is currently sharing the third spot in the Pichichi list with Roger Martí, Lucas Pérez, and Gerard Moreno of Levante UD, Deportivo Alavés and Villarreal CF respectively.
Given his track record of winning the Pichichi once in an era dominated by Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, one just has to pick the former Liverpool superstar, ahead of the other three, sitting in the third position in La Liga’s top goalscorers’ list. And not to mention, Luis Suárez has the privilege of playing alongside Lionel Messi, whose playmaking ability is arguably next to none in this entire world.
#2 Karim Benzema
Karim Benzema has not only been one of the top performers but he has been also one of the most consistent players in a Real Madrid shirt this season. The French striker, who is known as one of the best in his trade, has taken the goalscoring mantle at Real Madrid since the departure of club legend Cristiano Ronaldo in 2018.
Benzema has bailed out Zidane Zidane’s men on several occasions this season and has been one of the most influential factors behind Real Madrid’s current position in the league table.
In only 25 La Liga appearances this season, Karim Benzema has managed to find the back of the net 14 times, besides providing 6 assists. The Frenchman has been the main focal point of Real Madrid’s attack for quite some time now, and even after the arrival of Eden Hazard from Chelsea last summer, the 32-year-old continues to be the main man up front for Los Blancos.
#1 Lionel Messi
Who else but Barcelona’s undisputed king?
Lionel Messi is once again leading the Pichichi race with 19 goals to his name in just 22 La Liga appearances, averaging a goal every 99 minutes for the Catalan giants. Despite missing the initial part of the season through injuries, the Barcelona captain has still managed to establish a handsome five-goal lead over second-placed Karim Benzema.
Apart from his lethal finishing, Messi is also topping the chart for assists (12). Despite playing in a much deeper role, the Argentine has been heavily involved in Barcelona’s total tally of goals scored (63) in La Liga this campaign. Messi has been directly involved in almost 50% of goals scored by Barcelona in the league this season.
After completing a hat-trick of Pichichi wins and equalling Telmo Zarra’s record of winning the famous accolade for the sixth time last season, Lionel Messi is once again the most likely candidate to win the La Liga Golden Boot this season. Although it is still relatively early days for a final prediction, putting money on Messi to win the Golden Boot is still amongst the safest bets you can make in football at this moment.
Follow us on facebook for more sports news & updates