All-time Top Scorers in La Liga History

La Liga All-time Top Scorer List

The all-time top scorer list is a testament to the quality of Spanish football over the years. Since La Liga’s inception in 1928, some of the greatest footballers in history have played in Spain’s top division, scoring an incredible amount of goals.

Highest Goal Scorers In La Liga History

In La Liga, there have been some incredibly prolific goalscorers over the years. Some names stand out more than others, such as Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. Between them, they have won nine Ballon d’Or awards, which is a testament to their incredible goalscoring records in Spain’s top flight.

10. Karim Benzema – 200 goals in 389 games

Karim Benzema is a French professional footballer who plays as a striker for Spanish club Real Madrid and the France national team. He has played at the highest level in Europe for both clubs and country, winning honours including three Champions League titles, as well as scoring over 200 goals. Benzema began his senior career at Lyon in France, where he won two Ligue 1 titles and one Coupe de France, before signing for Madrid in 2009. He has since won four more Champions League trophies, La Liga titles, and two Copas del Rey.

Benzema is often rated as one of the best players in the world and was named the French Footballer of the Year in 2014. He has been involved in several high-profile controversies, including a sex tape scandal in 2010 and allegations of tax fraud in 2015. However, he has never been banned from playing football and has always denied any wrongdoing.

Benzema is an extremely accomplished striker, with an excellent goalscoring record in both club and international football. He is an accurate finisher with either foot, as well as being a good header of the ball. He is also known for his intelligent playmaking ability, which often leads to him setting up goals for his teammates. In short, Benzema is a complete striker who can do it all: score goals, create chances, and hold up the ball effectively.

9. Pahiño – 214 goals in 278 games

One of the most prolific goalscorers in La Liga history is Pahiño. He scored an impressive 214 goals in 278 games for various clubs in the Spanish top flight. His best season was in 1951/52 when he averaged a goal every other game for Deportivo La Coruña. Pahiño was a talented all-round striker, who was also able to create chances for his teammates. He was part of the Deportivo side that reached the semi-finals of the European Cup in 1964, scoring twice against Valencia in the quarter-finals. After retiring from playing, Pahiño went on to coach Deportivo and several other clubs.

8. Enrique Castro Gonzalez – 219 goals in 448 games

Enrique Castro Gonzalez is a Spanish retired footballer who played as a striker. He amassed La Liga totals of 219 goals in 448 games over the course of 16 seasons, with Racing Santander and Deportivo.

Nicknamed “Quini”, he was best known for his prolific goalscoring ability, which earned him the Pichichi Trophy on three occasions. He also represented Spain at the 1986 World Cup.

Castro started his professional career with Racing Santander, making his debut in the Segunda División in 1979. After scoring 41 goals in three seasons, he moved to Deportivo La Coruña, where he would become one of the most consistent marksmen in La Liga history.

In his first season with Deportivo, he netted an impressive 24 times in just 34 matches, helping the club to promotion to the top flight. He would go on to score at least 20 goals in all but two of his subsequent seasons with the club, and finished as the league’s top scorer on three occasions.

He retired from football at the age of 36, after playing one season with Cádiz CF in the second division. In total, Castro scored 219 goals in 448 games in La Liga, making him the competition’s fourth-highest scorer of all time.

7. Cesar Rodriguez – 221 goals in 353 games

Cesar Rodriguez was born in the city of Malaga on the southern coast of Spain in 1921. He began his professional career with Malaga in 1939, and moved to Barcelona in 1942. It was with Barcelona that he enjoyed the most success, scoring 221 goals in 353 games over a period of 11 years. He was a prolific goal scorer, and was known for his deadly left foot. He helped Barcelona win the Spanish league championship on six occasions, and was also a two-time winner of the prestigious Ballon d’Or award. He retired from professional football in 1954, and passed away in 2006 at the age of 85.

6. Alfredo di Stefano – 227 goals in 329 games

Alfredo di Stefano is without a doubt one of the greatest footballers to have ever played the game. The Spanish legend scored an incredible 227 goals in 329 games during his time in La Liga, a record that still stands today. Di Stefano was a master of all trades; he could score headers, tap-ins, long-range efforts and even free kicks. He was also an incredible passer of the ball and was known for his devastating dribbling skills.

Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina in 1926, di Stefano started his career with River Plate in 1945. After scoring an impressive 54 goals in 78 games for River Plate, he moved to Spanish giants Real Madrid in 1953. It was at Madrid where di Stefano truly made his name as one of the best players in the world. He helped Madrid win five successive European Cups between 1956 and 1960, scoring in each final.

After retiring from playing football in 1966, di Stefano went on to become a successful coach and president of Real Madrid. He was awarded with the title of Honorary President of Real Madrid in 1997, a title which he held until his death in 2014. Di Stefano’s incredible goal scoring record in La Liga will never be beaten and he will always be remembered as one of the greatest players to ever grace the game.

5. Raul – 229 goals in 550 games

Raul Gonzalez Blanco, or simply Raul, is a Spanish footballing legend. He is the all-time top scorer in La Liga history, with 229 goals in 550 games. He started his career at Real Madrid in 1995, and stayed with the club until 2010. He then moved to Schalke 04 in the German Bundesliga, where he played until his retirement in 2012.

Raul was an absolute goalscoring machine in La Liga. He averaged an impressive 0.42 goals per game, and scored over 20 goals in a season on no less than six occasions. In 2000/01, he became the first player ever to score 40 goals in a single La Liga season. His finest hour came in May 2002, when he led Real Madrid to their ninth European Cup title by scoring twice in the 4-1 win over Bayer Leverkusen in the final.

After his retirement from playing, Raul took up a coaching role at Real Madrid’s youth academy. In October 2015, he was appointed as the new head coach of New York Cosmos of the North American Soccer League.

4. Hugo Sanchez – 234 goals in 347 games

Hugo Sanchez is a Mexican former football player who is widely considered one of the best strikers in La Liga history. He scored 234 goals in 347 games for various clubs in the Spanish top flight, including Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid. He was also a prolific scorer for the Mexican national team, netting 43 times in 81 appearances. Sanchez won numerous accolades during his career, including five La Liga titles, two Copa del Rey trophies, and one UEFA Champions League championship. He was also named the European Footballer of the Year in 1985. After retiring as a player, Sanchez went into coaching and has managed several teams in Mexico and Spain.

3. Telmo Zarra – 251 goals in 277 games

Telmo Zarra is one the all-time top scorers in La Liga history, with 251 goals in 277 games. He played for Athletic Bilbao for his entire career, and is considered one of the greatest players in their history. Zarra was a prolific goalscorer, and his record of 251 goals is unlikely to be beaten anytime soon. He was a clinical finisher, and was also a good passer and dribbler. Zarra was also known for his physicality and aerial ability, and he often scored crucial goals for Athletic Bilbao. He won six league titles with the club, and was also voted the best player in Spain on three occasions. Zarra is a true legend of Spanish football, and his name will always be remembered by fans of the sport.

2. Cristiano Ronaldo – 311 goals in 292 games

Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the most successful footballers of all time. He has achieved massive success in club football with both Manchester United and Real Madrid, and he has also been extremely successful with the Portuguese national team, winning a host of major tournaments.

Ronaldo’s biggest individual accolade, however, is undoubtedly his goal scoring record in La Liga. He has scored an incredible 311 goals in 292 games in Spain’s top flight, putting him well ahead of any other player in the history of the competition. His goals have helped Real Madrid to win three La Liga titles, and he will be looking to add to his tally this season.

Ronaldo is not just a goalscorer, though – he is also a magnificent all-round player. He is blessed with great pace, power and technique, and he is also a very hard worker who never gives up on a play. This combination of attributes has made him one of the most feared players in world football, and it is no wonder that he continues to break records despite now being in his 30s.

It is safe to say that Ronaldo will go down as one of the greatest players ever to have played the game, and his goal scoring record in La Liga will be remembered for many years to come.

1. Lionel Messi – 474 goals in 520 games

Lionel Messi is the all-time record goal scorer in La Liga. He has scored 474 goals in 520 games, which is a phenomenal achievement. Messi began his career at Barcelona in 2004 and has been with the club ever since. He has won a host of trophies with Barcelona, including eight La Liga titles and four Champions League trophies.

Messi is also the all-time top scorer in El Clasico matches, with 26 goals. He has scored more goals against Real Madrid than any other player in history. The 2017/18 season was his most prolific season yet, as he scored 45 goals in just 52 appearances.

Conclusion

Since the early days of La Liga, its top scorer list has been dominated by Spanish forwards. However, in more recent years, foreign players have begun to make their mark on the competition. Barcelona striker Lionel Messi currently holds the record for most goals scored in La Liga history, with 474 goals to his name.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who finished as La Liga top goal scorer last season?

Atletico Madrid’s Luis Suarez finished as the top goal scorer in the 2020-2021 season with 21 goals. He was followed by Lionel Messi with 20 goals and Karim Benzema with 19 goals. It was Suarez’s first season with Atletico Madrid, after previously playing for Barcelona for six seasons.

Why is the Liga Golden Boot called the Pichichi Trophy? 

The Pichichi Trophy, given to the top goal scorer in La Liga each season, is named after Athletic Bilbao striker Rafael “Pichichi” Moreno. He was a prolific goal scorer for Athletic Bilbao throughout the 1920s and 1930s, earning him the nickname “Pichichi,” which means “little duck” in Spanish slang. He tragically passed away from tuberculosis at the young age of 36, but his record as a goal scorer continues to be honored by this annual award.

Who has more La Liga goals, Messi or Ronaldo?

Lionel Messi has scored more goals in La Liga, with 474 goals compared to Cristiano Ronaldo’s 311 goals. However, Ronaldo has a higher goal scoring rate in La Liga, with a ratio of 1.07 goals per game compared to Messi’s 0.92 goals per game. Both players have had record-breaking careers in La Liga and are widely considered two of the greatest football players of all time.