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| Pichichi Trophy |
But who comes third after the two legends? Check out this list to find out the 15 leading goalscorers in La Liga
15. Karim Benzema - 162 goals
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| One of the two currently active players in this list |
One of the two active leading goalscorers currently plating in the La Liga, Karim Benzema came through the Lyon youth academy before making his debut for the Les Gones in 2005. Struggling to break into a star-studded Lyon team, Benzema had to wait for three seasons before being given the responsibility of leading the Les Gones attack.
Under the tutelage of Alain Perrin, Benzema became the club's leading goal scorer as he led the club to their seventh and till date last Ligue1 title. Karim Benzema spent one more season at the French club before moving to Real Madrid in 2009. In the four years at his boyhood club, Benzema won four straight Ligue1 titles, 1 Coupe de France and 1 Trophee de Champions.
Benzema arrived in Madrid as one of the second generation of galactic signing by Real Madrid president Florentino Perez. At Madrid, Benzema was overshadowed by the other Galactico signing Cristiano Ronaldo. The Frenchman often played as the selfless frontman for Ronaldo to score the goals.
The striker was a key cog of Real Madrid's three straight Champions League winning side as the Madrid giants dominated the Champions League last decade. The Frenchman was finally given the responsibility of leading the Madrid attack following the shock transfer of Cristiano Ronaldo to Juventus in 2018.
The Lyon-born player is currently in his eleventh season at Santiago Bernabeu. During his career with the Madrid giants, the Frenchman has won 2 La Liga titles, 2 Copa del Reys, 2 Spanish Super Cups, 4 Champions League, 3 UEFA Super Cups and 4 FIFA Club World Cups. His stint in the national team has been far from pleasing after the striker was involved in blackmailing scandal with French teammate Mathieu Valbuena. Benzema last played for France in 2014.
Karim Benzema currently stands fifteenth in all-time leading goalscorers in La Liga and the fifth non-Spanish player leading goalscorer. In 338 La Liga appearances, the striker has scored an impressive 162 goals.
15. Samuel Eto'o -168 goals
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| Greatest African footballer to play in La Liga |
The only African player in this list, it comes as a surprise to many that Samuel Eto'o started his career in Spain with Real Madrid. The Cameroonian made his debut in 1999 with Los Blancos but failed to break into a star-studded Real Madrid first team. The African spent two seasons away on loan, before finally moving to RCD Mallorca in 2000 after spending a season earlier on loan at the island-club.
It was at the Balearic island that the La Liga first witnessed the attacking prowess of Samuel Eto'o. The Cameroonian burst onto the scene as he became the club's all-time leading La Liga scorer in just five seasons with the club. Samuel Eto'o left the club in 2004 to join Catalan giants Barcelona after helping Mallorca win their first and only Copa del Rey title.
At Barcelona, Eto'o transformed into the world-class striker that we know today. The Cameroonian formed the Blaugrana's first fearsome trio of the decade with Ronaldinho and Thierry Henry. Eto'o spent five seasons at the Catalan capital winning 3 La Liga titles, 1 Copa del Rey, 1 Spanish Super Cup and 2 Champions League titles as well as the Pichichi before moving to Inter Milan in 2009 as part of transfer deal for Zlatan Ibrahimovic. The striker sadly would never in the Spanish league again after leaving its shores.
At Milan, Eto'o became the first player to win back-to-back trebles with two different clubs after Inter Milan lifted the Champions League, Serie A and the Coppa Italia titles. The striker though would spend just one more season with the Nerazzurri before moving to Russain to join Anzhi Makhachkala.
Eto'o spent two seasons at Russia before moving to Premier League side Chelsea in 2013. A year with the London side was followed by moves to Everton, Sampdoria, Antalyaspor, Konyaspor and finally Qatar SC before retiring from the game in 2019.
In his distinguished 22-year long career, Eto'o won 2 African Cup of Nations, 1 Olympic Gold Medal and 4 African Player of the Year. He represented Cameroon in four World Cups and six African Cup of Nations. He remains his national side's leading goalscorer and most appearance maker.
The striker spent almost a decade at Spain and scored an impressive 168 goals in 280 appearances.
14. Guillermo Gorostiza - 178
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| One of the members of the first La Liga winning team. |
One of the earliest prolific goalscorers in Spanish football, Guillermo Gorostiza enjoyed a 22-year long career. The Santutzi born player started his career in 1927 with Arenas Getxco after coming through Zugazarte youth academy. The striker spent one more season in the lower leagues with Racing Ferrol before moving to Athletic Bilbao in 1929.
Gorostiza quickly left his mark in the La Liga as the Basque county club won four league title in six years. The striker also topped the top goalscorer chart on two occasions. Along with the league titles, the Spaniard also won four straight Copa del Rey titles with the club.
The striker left Bilbao after nearly 11 seasons to join a young Valencia team in 1940. With Gorostiza leading the attack, Valencia won their first two La Liga titles and a Copa del Rey. Gorostiza joined lower league club Barakaldo CF after leaving the Mestalla in 1946. A season with Barakaldo was followed by his first retirement in 1947 before twice coming out retirement to play for CD Logrones and Juventia Trubia before finally retiring in 1951.
Guillermo Gorostiza was part of six La Liga winning teams during his 22-year long career. He was also part of the first team to win the title in 1929. During his 17-year long association with La Liga, the striker scored an impressive 178 goals in 256 appearances.
The striker tragically died in 1966 in Bilbao at the age of 57.
13. Juan Arza - 182 goals
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| Sevilla legend |
One of the greatest ever strikers in the history of Sevilla FC, Juan Arza started his career in his hometown club of CD Izarra before moving up the leagues to join Malaga in 1942. Malaga, who were playing in the second division at the time, suffered relegation at the end of the 1942-43 seasons causing them to part ways with a number of their special talents, including Juan Arza.
Arza joined Sevilla after the Malaga debacle and quickly established himself at the Andalusian club. With a young and hungry Juan Arza leading the attack, Sevilla won their first and only La Liga title. Arza went not to win a Copa del Rey title as well as the Pichchi trophy in 16-season at Sevilla before moving to Atletico Almeria in 1959 and retiring from the game a year later.
The striker spent 16-seasons in La Liga scoring an impressive 283 goals in 349 top-flight appearances. Azra sadly passed away in 2011 at the age of 88.
12. David Villa - 185 goals
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| One of the greatest strikers in the history of Spanish football |
A prolific goalscorer throughout his career, David Villa started his career in Sporting Gijon after coming through their academy. The striker made his debut in 2000 with the reserve side of Gijon before breaking into the first-team and taking up the mantle of the leading scorer of the club.
The goalscoring prowess of the young striker quickly garnered attention around the country. It didn't take long for Villa to make his La Liga debut as Real Zaragoza came calling first for the young Spanish striker. Los Manos signed up young Villa in 2003 after spending two years in the Segunda division.
The young David Villa quickly made the transition to playing at the highest level of Spanish football as he scored more than fifteen goals in his only two seasons with the club. Two seasons with Zaragoza along with a Spanish Super Cup and Copa del Rey title was followed by a big-money move to Valencia in 2005.
It was at the Mestalla that David Villa established himself as one of the best strikers in Spanish football. The Spanish striker formed a formidable partnership with former Real Madrid striker Raul Morientes but could only guide the Los Ches to one Copa del Rey title. After five seasons as finishing as Valencia's top scorer and minimal success, Villa made the decision to move to the Catalan capital and join Barcelona.
At Barcelona, Villa enjoyed a trophy-laden three seasons. The Spaniard formed an impressive partnership with Lionel Messi as Barcelona won the treble during his first season at the club. A La Liga title, a Spanish Super Cup, a UEFA Super Cup and 1 FIFA Club World Cup titles were also added to his growing title showcase before finally leaving the Catalan capital to move to the Spanish capital of Madrid to join Atletico Madrid in 2013.
David Villa spent just one season at Madrid, winning the La Liga title, before moving to the United States of America to join MLS outfit New York City FC. The Langreo-born striker spent four seasons with the American outfit winning the MLS MVP once before finishing his career in Japan with Vissel Kobe.
Part of one of the greatest ever international teams to grace the game, David Villa played an integral role in winning his country's first World Cup and second Euro Cup. He ended his career as the leading goalscorer in Spanish national team.
During his eleven seasons in La Liga, David Villa scored 185 goals in 352 appearances.
11. Santillana - 186 goals
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| Carlos Alonso Gonzalez |
Santillana played seventeen seasons at the Santiago Bernabeu with Real Madrid before finally retiring from the game in 1988. During his illustrious career, the striker was lucky to have been part of two decade-defining Real Madrid teams of the 1970s and 1980s. Santillana ended his career after winning an incredible 9 La Liga titles, 4 Copa del Reys and 2 UEFA Cups.
The Spaniard scored an incredible 186 goals in 446 appearances. Despite being one of the leading goalscorers in La Liga history, Santillana never managed to win a Pichichi trophy.
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