Top Scorers in the History of La Liga: The Spanish league, known as La Liga, began on February 12, 1929. It’s one of the strongest and most popular leagues in the world, and many clubs have competed for the Spanish championship. The league introduced the Pichichi trophy, which is awarded to the top scorer of the season. The trophy has been given by the Spanish sports newspaper Marca since the 1952/53 season.
Since its founding in 1928, the Spanish league has been largely dominated by two clubs: Real Madrid and FC Barcelona. Another club that has consistently performed at the top level is Athletic Bilbao. Therefore, it’s no surprise that most of the players in the top 10 of the all-time La Liga scorers list have spent a significant portion, if not their entire careers, at one of these three clubs.
The names on this list are mostly familiar because some players are still active (Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema), recently retired (Raúl), or have left a lasting legacy despite having played in the past (Hugo Sanchez, Alfredo di Stefano). The other top scorers on this list are more renowned within Spain than internationally.
Top Scorers in the History of the La Liga
Let’s take a look at the complete list of top scorers in La Liga.
Lionel Messi
No other player in La Liga has scored as many goals as Lionel Messi. With a total of 474 goals, he holds the record for the highest number of goals scored in the history of the league.
10. Pahiño
- Country: Spain
- Goals: 212
- Matches: 278
- Ratio: 0.76
- Career: 1943-1956
- Clubs (Goals/Matches): Celta de Vigo (57/82), Real Madrid (111/124), Deportivo La Coruña (46/72)
Manuel Fernández Fernández, also known as Pahiño, is ranked as the 10th highest goal scorer in La Liga history. He scored a total of 212 goals in 278 games.
Pahiño achieved the prestigious Pichichi award, twice during his career, specifically in the seasons of 1947-48 and 1951-52. He played for Celta Vigo, Real Madrid, and Deportivo La Coruña at different times.
Pahiño was a legendary figure in Spanish football. His ability to score goals was exceptional, and he left a lasting impact on the sport. With just one brilliant moment, he could completely change the outcome of a game. Even though time passes, his goal-scoring record will be remembered and admired. Pahiño’s legacy will serve as an inspiration for future generations of players.
9. Quini
- Country: Spain
- Goals: 219
- Matches: 448
- Ratio: 0.49
- Career: 1968-1987
- Clubs (Goals/Matches): Sporting Gijón (165/348), Barcelona (54/100)
Enrique Castro González, who was known as Quini, holds the 9th position among the all-time top scorers in La Liga. He scored a remarkable total of 219 goals in 448 matches. Quini earned the esteemed Pichichi award, which recognizes the top scorer in La Liga, an impressive five times throughout his career. He achieved this feat in the seasons of 1973-74, 1976-77, 1978-79, 1980-81, and 1981-82. Quini played for Sporting Gijón and Barcelona during his professional journey and is widely regarded as one of the greatest Spanish strikers ever.
In 1981, Quini was unfortunately kidnapped by a terrorist group from the Basque region. Thankfully, he was released unharmed after enduring 25 days of captivity. Despite this traumatic experience, Quini showed incredible resilience and continued to perform at a high level upon his release. He ultimately retired from professional football in 1984. In 2018, Quini passed away at the age of 68, leaving behind a profound legacy.
Quini was not only an exceptional goal scorer but also possessed remarkable skills in dribbling and passing. He played a vital role in the success of both Sporting Gijón and Barcelona during his career. His contributions to the sport have cemented his status as one of the finest Spanish strikers in history. Quini’s impact and memory will endure for many years to come.
8. César Rodríguez
- Country: Spain
- Goals: 221
- Matches: 353
- Ratio: 0.63
- Career: 1940-1960
- Clubs (Goals/Matches): Granada (23/24), Barcelona (190/287), Cultural Leonesa (3/15), Elche (5/27)
César Rodríguez Álvarez, known as César, was a well-known Spanish football player who played as a forward. He had a remarkable career, primarily with FC Barcelona in the 1940s and 1950s.
César played a total of 18 seasons in La Liga, spending 13 of them with Barcelona and one with Granada CF. He was part of the legendary Barcelona team that won four consecutive league titles from 1947 to 1952.
In the 1948-1949 season, César became the top scorer by netting an impressive 28 goals in 24 matches. He repeated this achievement in the following season (1950-1951), securing the top scorer title with 29 goals in 27 matches. César’s final top scorer honor came in the 1951-1952 season, where he scored 21 goals in 24 matches.
Throughout his career, César scored a total of 221 goals in 353 appearances for Barcelona in La Liga, Cultural Leonesa, Elche, and Granada, making him one of the leading goal scorers in the history of the club. His exceptional ability to find the back of the net and his valuable contributions to the success of FC Barcelona have solidified his special place in the club’s history.
7. Alfredo Di Stéfano
- Country: Argentina, Spain
- Goals: 227
- Matches: 329
- Ratio: 0.69
- Career: 1953-1966
- Clubs (Goals/Matches): Real Madrid (216/282), Espanyol (11/47)
Alfredo Di Stéfano, a renowned footballer, holds the seventh position among the all-time top scorers in La Liga. He scored an impressive total of 227 goals in 329 matches, representing both Real Madrid and Espanyol. Di Stéfano’s exceptional talent was recognized with two Ballon d’Or awards, solidifying his status as one of the greatest players in football history.
In his career, Di Stéfano secured the Pichichi Trophy, awarded to the top scorer in La Liga, an impressive five times. He achieved this feat in the seasons of 1953-54, 1956-57, 1957-58, 1958-59, and 1960-61. Furthermore, Di Stéfano played a pivotal role in Real Madrid’s success, winning the European Cup a remarkable five times.
Di Stéfano’s contributions extended to both the Argentina and Spain national teams. He played a significant part in Argentina’s victory in the South American Championship of 1947. Notably, Di Stéfano boasted an impressive goal-scoring average of 0.69 goals per game and registered 22 hat-tricks during his time in La Liga, ranking him fourth in the league’s history.
The most prolific season for Di Stéfano in La Liga was the 1956-57 campaign, during which he scored an impressive 31 goals in 30 games. This remarkable achievement earned him the Pichichi Trophy as well as the European Cup title that season.
6. Raúl
- Country: Spain
- Goals: 228
- Matches: 550
- Ratio: 0.41
- Career: 1994-2010
- Clubs (Goals/Matches): Real Madrid
Raúl González Blanco, widely known as Raúl, holds the sixth position among the all-time top scorers in La Liga. He achieved a remarkable feat by scoring 228 goals in 550 appearances exclusively for Real Madrid. In addition, he ranks third on Real Madrid’s all-time top scorers list across all competitions, with a total of 323 goals.
In terms of accolades, Raúl secured the prestigious Pichichi Trophy, on two occasions. He accomplished this feat in the seasons of 1998-1999 and 2000-01. Furthermore, Raúl triumphed in the UEFA Champions League three times while representing Real Madrid.
Raúl’s goal-scoring record in La Liga is truly remarkable, averaging an impressive 0.41 goals per game. Among his noteworthy achievements, his most productive season in La Liga was the 1999-2000 campaign, during which he netted 25 goals in 37 games. This exceptional performance not only led to personal success but also earned him the Pichichi Trophy that season.
5. Hugo Sánchez
- Country: Mexico
- Goals: 234
- Matches: 347
- Ratio: 0.67
- Career: 1981-1994
- Clubs (Goals/Matches): Atlético Madrid (54/111), Real Madrid (164/207) Rayo Vallecano (16/29)
Hugo Sánchez, an esteemed footballer, holds the fifth position among the all-time top scorers in La Liga. He achieved an impressive feat by scoring 234 goals in 347 appearances, representing Atlético Madrid, Real Madrid, and Rayo Vallecano.
In 1989-90, Sánchez was honored with the European Golden Shoe award, which recognizes the top scorer in Europe. This prestigious accolade highlighted his exceptional scoring abilities.
Sánchez played a significant role in the Mexico national team, contributing to their victory in the CONCACAF Championship in 1977. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers Mexico has ever produced.
Sánchez’s goal-scoring record in La Liga is truly remarkable. He averaged an outstanding 0.67 goals per game, placing him fifth among the highest goal-scoring averages in La Liga history. Notably, his most prolific season in La Liga was the 1989-90 campaign, during which he impressively scored 38 goals in 35 games.
4. Karim Benzema
- Country: France
- Goals: 238
- Matches: 439
- Ratio: 0.54
- Career: 2009-2023
- Club: Real Madrid
Karim Benzema is currently the fourth highest goal scorer in the history of La Liga, the Spanish football league. He has scored 238 goals in 439 matches for Real Madrid. He is just 15 goals behind Telmo Zarra, who is in third place. Many people believe that Benzema will surpass Zarra’s record in the upcoming seasons. Unfortunately, he has left Real Madrid and now plays for Al-Ittihad Club in Saudi Arabia.
Benzema is known for scoring a lot of goals and has been in excellent form for Real Madrid recently. He won the Pichichi Trophy, which is awarded to the top scorer in La Liga, once in the 2021-22 season.
Benzema is a versatile striker who can score goals in different ways. He is strong in the air, has a powerful long-range shot, and is also very good at creating scoring opportunities for his teammates. He is a smart player who understands the game well and knows where to position himself to make an impact.
3. Telmo Zarra
- Country: Spain
- Goals: 251
- Matches: 277
- Ratio: 0.91
- Career: 1940-1955
- Club: Athletic Bilbao
Telmo Zarra was an exceptional player in La Liga who held the record for the most goals scored for a long time. He scored an incredible 251 goals in just 277 games. However, his record was eventually surpassed by Lionel Messi. Zarra was part of Athletic Bilbao and had an impressive six wins of the Pichichi Trophy, which is given to the top scorer in La Liga. He won it in the seasons 1944–45, 1945–46, 1946–47, 1949–50, 1950–51, and 1952–53.
Zarra was a compact player with a strong build, and he had a powerful shot. He was also very clever on the field and had a deep understanding of the game. In Spain, he was considered a national hero and earned the nickname “El Gallo” (The Rooster) due to his fiery nature.
Zarra’s goal-scoring record in La Liga is truly remarkable. On average, he scored 0.91 goals per game, which is the second-highest average in the league’s history. He also achieved 23 hat-tricks, placing him third on the list of most hat-tricks in La Liga history.
Zarra’s most outstanding season in La Liga was in 1950–51, where he netted an impressive 38 goals in just 30 games. It was during this season that he also secured the Pichichi Trophy.
2. Cristiano Ronaldo
- Country: Portugal
- Goals: 311
- Matches: 292
- Ratio: 1.07
- Career: 2009-2018
- Club: Real Madrid
Cristiano Ronaldo holds the impressive position of being the second highest goal scorer in La Liga history, with a total of 311 goals. He achieved this remarkable feat in just 292 appearances for Real Madrid over a span of nine seasons. In the 2014–15 season, he also set a record for the most goals scored in a single campaign by a foreign player with 48 goals.
Ronaldo is not only a prominent figure in La Liga but also the all-time leading scorer for the Portuguese national team. He has scored a phenomenal 122 goals in 199 appearances across various competitions. Ronaldo is widely recognized as one of the greatest footballers ever, and his incredible scoring prowess in La Liga reinforces this perception.
It is astonishing to note that Ronaldo achieved his remarkable goal-scoring record in La Liga within just nine seasons. His average of 0.97 goals per game is the highest among the top 10 all-time scorers. Additionally, he registered an impressive 26 hat-tricks, ranking third in the history of La Liga.
The 2014–15 season proved to be Ronaldo’s most prolific in La Liga, as he netted an astonishing 48 goals in just 35 matches. This outstanding performance also earned him the prestigious Pichichi Trophy, awarded to the league’s top scorer.
1. Lionel Messi
- Country: Argentina
- Goals: 474
- Matches: 520
- Ratio: 0.91
- Career: 2004-2021
- Club: Barcelona
Lionel Messi is an absolute legend in La Liga, as he holds the prestigious title of the all-time leading goal scorer. He has an astonishing 474 goals to his name, achieved in 520 appearances for Barcelona during an impressive 17-season tenure. In the 2011–12 season, Messi set an unmatched record by scoring 50 goals, the highest ever in a single campaign. Additionally, he is the only player to have won the league’s top scorer award in eight different seasons.
Messi’s contributions to Barcelona go beyond La Liga, as he is also the highest goal scorer in the club’s history across all competitions. With an incredible tally of 672 goals in 778 appearances, Messi’s impact is truly remarkable. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers to have graced the sport, and his goal-scoring record in La Liga is a testament to his extraordinary talent.
Messi’s achievements in La Liga are awe-inspiring. His ability to find the back of the net is unmatched, and his record-breaking tally speaks for itself. He is an icon of the game and has left an indelible mark on Spanish football.
