'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
In Spanish football, the Pichichi award is given every year to the top goalscorer in La Liga season by the sports newspaper Marca since 1929. Late Spanish and Athletic Bilbao forward Telmo Zarra won it most number of times (6).
Some legendary players like Hugo Sanchez, Raul, Ruud van Nistelrooy, Samuel Eto'o and Brazil's Ronaldo have won this award in the past.
Last few years have seen the domination of Messi and Ronaldo. In the last 8 years, Lionel Messi won it 4 times, Cristiano Ronaldo won it 3 times and Luis Suarez once. Once again, Lionel Messi leads the race for 2017/18 season. But this time, Cristiano Ronaldo is not his close competitor.
Let's see the 5 players who can beat Messi to the Pichichi Trophy
#5 Antonio Sanabria, Real Betis
After three substitute appearance at the start of the season, Antonio Sanabria started his first game of the 2017/18 campaign against Real Madrid and scored the winner against the reigning European Champions at Santiago Bernabeu. It was a beautifully taken header in the 92nd minute of the game.
He did not look back after that and scored 6 more goals in his next 6 La Liga games. His minutes per goal ratio of 83 minutes per goal was the best in La Liga along with Lionel Messi, for anyone in the top 10.
He is beginning to draw the attention of some big clubs and Atletico Madrid is very much interested in him. At just 21, he will only get better and has every chance to beat Lionel Messi to the Pichichi award.
#4 Rodrigo, Valencia
Valencia is unbeaten in the league thanks to the goals from Rodrigo Moreno. The former Real Madrid man moved to Valencia on a permanent deal in 2015 after a brief stint with the Portuguese giants Benfica. He made only 19 appearances in the league last season, scoring 5 times in the process.
He got off to a stunning start to the 2017/18 campaign as he made 11 appearances for Valencia in La Liga. He scored 7 times in the league so far and assisted 3 more. Currently, he is fourth on the goalscoring charts only behind Messi, Zaza, and Bakambu.
Valencia are already done playing against Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid, and Sevilla, Rodrigo will have some easy games in the next few weeks to increase his goal tally. He will definitely not make it easy for Lionel Messi.
#3 Cedric Bakambu, Villarreal
Born in France, the man from Congo moved to the Spanish side Villarreal during the summer of 2015 from the Turkey side Bursaspor on a 5-year deal.
He played 10 times for Villarreal this season, scoring 8 times in the process which includes a hat-trick against Eibar at home. Only Lionel Messi and Simone Zaza have scored more goals than Bakambu. He took Villarreal to the 5th place in the current La Liga standings only behind Barca, Real, Valencia, and Atletico.
He is quick with his feet and has the ability to beat defenders at will. He is a difficult player for defenders to mark and he scores every 104 minutes in La Liga, which is very impressive for any striker. With Villarreal doing well in the league, Bakambu will score a lot of goals this season.
#2 Simone Zaza, Valencia
After various loan spells and frequent change in clubs, Simone Zaza has finally seemed to be settled in Valencia. Valencia's Italian frontman has been the most improved striker in La Liga this season.
Simone Zaza has been key to the Valencia's unbeaten start in La Liga 2017/18, scoring nine goals in the process including a hat-trick against Malaga. He is second only to Lionel Messi in the La Liga scoring charts this season.
The former Juventus man has scored a goal every 95 minutes in 2017/18 La Liga season and looked very impressive in front of goal. Simone Zaza has the fifth best conversion rate (33.3%) among players with at least six goals in Europe’s top five leagues.
Valencia sits at the top of the La Liga table only behind Barcelona. Marcelino knows this is their best chance to win the La Liga title and Zaza will be looking to add a lot more goals to his tally.
#1 Cristiano Ronaldo, Real Madrid
This list will be incomplete without his name on it. Ever since his move to Real Madrid, Ronaldo has managed to score at least 29 times in each of his last 8 La Liga seasons and has won four Ballon d'Or awards.
Cristiano Ronaldo got off to a worst-ever La Liga start of his career with just 1 goal from 630 minutes (7 games). Ronaldo has made 48 attempts on goal in La Liga this season and has a conversion rate of just 2.08%
He may not be scoring now but we all know how deadly Cristiano Ronaldo can be when he gets back to form. He is one of the best footballers in the world right now and has won this title three times in the past.
He already scored 6 times in Champions League this season and it is too early to rule him out of contention.
