La Liga 2018-19 Golden Boot: Top Contenders at the start of April 2019

Lionel Messi is one of the contenders for the Award, but how high is he ranked?
Lionel Messi is one of the contenders for the Award, but how high is he ranked?

Hello and welcome back to our assessment of the top contenders for La Liga Golden Boot at the start of April. La Liga has reached the business end of its season and there are just 7 rounds left to play. The table has already taken shape and not much is expected to change at the top from now until the end of the season.

Also Read: Top Contenders for the La Liga Golden Boot: March 2019

But there's still a lot to fight for - the Champions League places, Europa League spots and the relegation battle, and all these make the Golden Boot race interesting. But with only a handful of games left to play, who is the No. 1 Contender for the Golden Boot right now? Read on to find out.


#10 Antoine Griezmann (France, Atletico Madrid) 🡻 🡻 🡻 🡻

Club Atletico de Madrid v Girona FC - La Liga
Club Atletico de Madrid v Girona FC - La Liga

Goals Scored - 13

The Frenchman has been in poor form of late and has dropped rapidly down the list as a result. He is only still a part of the top ten contenders by virtue of better goals per game and minutes per goal ratio. His slump has coincided with Atletico Madrid’s recent poor run as they are out of the UEFA Champions League and are 11 points behind Barcelona at second place in the league and have virtually nothing much to play for this season.

Griezmann started in all of Atletico’s matches in March but failed to score in any of them. Atletico won at Real Sociedad, defeated Leganes at home, but stumbled to a 2-0 loss away to Athletic Bilbao. It was only away to Alaves at the end of the month that Griezmann had any significant contribution as he set up one goal in a 4-0 win.

April brought a slight change in fortunes as the Frenchman found the back of the net against Girona and helped Atletico win 2-0. However, he was largely a spectator as Barcelona defeated them 2-0 at the Camp Nou and virtually sealed the title race.

Griezmann has scored 13 goals from 31 games in La Liga so far and also has 7 assists to his name. He is averaging a goal every 205 minutes played and has registered 71 shots so far, 39 of which have been on target. The Frenchman is 20 goals behind the man leading the race and sadly, has no chances of winning the Golden Boot this season.

#9 Raúl de Tomás (Spain, Rayo Vallecano) 🢁 🢁

Raul de Tomas is among the contenders once again
Raul de Tomas is among the contenders once again

Goals Scored - 13

The Spaniard had a spectacular month of March and has made way into the top contenders' list as a result. However, he was unable to prevent his club from sliding further down into the grasp of relegation as Rayo Vallecano lost 3 of the four games in the month and drew the other.

Raul de Tomas started the month with a defeat to Girona at home, where he failed to score. He did score in the following game at the Camp Nou, but Barcelona won 3-1 anyway. Rayo Vallecano lost the next game away to Villareal as Tomas failed to find the back of the net again. However, he ended the month with a crucial goal at home against Real Betis, helping his team earn a draw.

The Spaniard set up a goal in the 2-1 defeat away to SD Eibar and last weekend scored a goal to help Vallecano win 2-0. It was his side's side’s first win in 10 games!

As of now, Tomas has 13 goals from 28 games and is averaging a goal every 182 minutes played. While he might not be aiming for the Golden Boot, the Spaniard will be hoping to continue his goalscoring form as it could help Vallecano make a miraculous escape from relegation.

#8 Jaime Mata (Spain, Getafe) 🡻

Valencia v Getafe - Copa del Rey Quarter Final
Valencia v Getafe - Copa del Rey Quarter Final

Goals Scored - 13

Despite a stellar month of March, Jaime Mata has still dropped one place to 8th at the start of April. Interestingly, Getafe are currently 4th in the table, a point ahead of Sevilla and for that, they have Jaime Mata to thank.

The Spaniard started the month with a fine finish against Real Betis which turned out to be the winner. He followed that up with a splendid brace that helped Getafe win 2-1 at home against Huesca. Since then though, the Spaniard has failed to find the back of the net in the last four games - draws against Valencia and Espanyol, a defeat at the hands of Leganes and most recently, the win at home against Athletic Bilbao.

Jaime Mata now has 13 goals from 28 games and is averaging a goal every 151 minutes played. He has attempted 43 shots in La Liga, 22 of which have been on target.

#7 Charles (Brazil, SD Eibar) 🡻 🡻 🡻

SD Eibar v Real Madrid CF - La Liga
SD Eibar v Real Madrid CF - La Liga

Goals Scored - 13

After a dream run, the Brazilian had a reality check in the month of March. Charles has dropped three places to 7th as a result of his dismal performances in March. SD Eibar are currently 12 in the league but could slide further down by the end of the season.

Charles, on the other hand, is still 7th in the list only due to better goals per minute ratio. The Brazilian failed to score in any of the four games in March, which included 2 draws, 1 win and 1 defeat for his club. However, he found the net against Rayo Vallecano at the start of April and helped his team earn a vital 2-1 win at home. Last week, Charles was on the bench as Getafe were defeated by Real Madrid at the Bernabeu. He came on for the last 6 minutes but failed to have an impact.

The Brazilian has scored 13 goals from 28 games in La Liga so far and is averaging a goal every 115 minutes played. He has a 50% shot accuracy rate in the league this season.

#6 Iago Aspas (Spain, Celta Vigo) 🢁 🢁 🢁 🢁

Real Sociedad v RC Celta de Vigo - La Liga
Real Sociedad v RC Celta de Vigo - La Liga

Goals Scored - 15

A recurring calf injury had forced the Spaniard to watch from the sidelines as his team faltered in the relegation battle. Aspas missed a total of 9 games since the start of the year, with Celta Vigo losing 7 of those.

His return to action was in the crunch game against fellow relegation candidates Villareal at the start of the month. They were 2-0 down at one point, but the Spaniard inspired them to a miraculous comeback, scoring a brace and helping Celta Vigo win 3-2! In the following game, away at SD Huesca, he scored one and set up two, to earn a vital 3-3 draw. Last weekend, he scored another brace to help his team win 3-1 at home against Real Sociedad.

Aspas’ return from injury has been like a breath of fresh air for his club. He has scored 5 goals and set up 2 since his return. No player in the league is as important to their team as the Spaniard. The Celta Vigo fans will be praying that he stays injury free now because his clubs need him to drive them to safety.

The Spaniard has scored 15 goals from 21 appearances in La Liga so far and is averaging a goal every 115 minutes played.

#5 Wissam Ben Yedder (France, Seville) 🢀 🢂

SS Lazio v Sevilla - UEFA Europa League Round of 32: First Leg
SS Lazio v Sevilla - UEFA Europa League Round of 32: First Leg

Goals Scored - 16

The Frenchman was on song last month which helped him to stay put at the 5th position among the top contenders. Thanks to his form, Sevilla are right on the fringes of the last Champions League spot. They are currently 5th, a point behind 4th-placed Getafe with 7 games remaining.

Ben Yedder started the month with a goal against SD Huesca, but it was in vain as his team succumbed to a 2-1 away defeat. The Frenchman scored a brilliant hat-trick in the following game at home against Real Sociedad and helped Seville win 5-2. He then scored the only goal of the game in a crunch away tie against Espanyol. However, Yedder has not scored in the three games since - a defeat to Valencia and wins against Alaves and Real Valladolid.

The Frenchman has 16 goals from 28 games in La Liga so far and has also registered 7 assists. He is averaging a goal every 137 minutes played and has a 57% shot accuracy in La Liga this season.

#4 Karim Benzema (France, Real Madrid) 🢁 🢁 🢁 🢁

Real Madrid CF v SD Eibar - La Liga
Real Madrid CF v SD Eibar - La Liga

Goals Scored - 17

The Frenchman has put together a nifty little run of late and has climbed four places in this list. He started April as 4th among the top contenders for La Liga Golden Boot.

At the start of the month, Benzema failed to score against arch-rivals Barcelona as Real Madrid succumbed to a humiliating 1-0 home defeat. However, he was back in the news in the following game, away to Real Valladolid. He scored a brace and set up another as Real won 4-1.

The Frenchman failed to score in Zinedine Zidane’s first game back in charge but did set up a goal as Real won 2-0 against Celta Vigo. Benzema found the back of the net again at the end of March, scoring one and setting up another in a hard fought 3-2 win over SD Huesca at home.

Benzema continued his goalscoring run in April as well, netting Real’s only goal in a 2-1 defeat away to Valencia at the start of the month. Last weekend, he scored a brace again as Real won 2-1 at home against SD Eibar.

As of now, Benzema has 17 goals from 31 appearances in the league and is averaging a goal every 149 minutes played.

#3 Cristhian Stuani (Uruguay, Girona) 🢀 🢂

Girona FC v FC Barcelona - La Liga
Girona FC v FC Barcelona - La Liga

Goals Scored - 18

The Uruguayan has steadily been among the top contenders since the start of the season. Stuani continued his goal-scoring streak in March and his form has helped his club shy clear of the relegation battle.

Stuani started March with a goalscoring masterclass against Rayo Vallecano, scoring both goals in a 2-0 win. He was in the scoresheet in the next game as well, against Valencia at home, but Girona succumbed to a 3-2 defeat. After failing to score in the 2-0 win against Leganes, Stuani scored once again against Athletic Bilbao at home, but Girona lost the game 2-1.

The Uruguayan missed the away defeat to Atletico Madrid at the start of April, but last weekend, he was back in the team and in the scoresheet, against Espanyol. Sadly, Girona lost that game as well.

Stuani has now scored 18 goals from 27 games so far this season and is averaging a goal every 127 minutes played. He might need to score a few more till the end of the season to ensure his club stay safe in La Liga.

#2 Luis Suarez (Uruguay, Barcelona) 🢀 🢂

FC Barcelona v Club Atletico de Madrid - La Liga
FC Barcelona v Club Atletico de Madrid - La Liga

Goals Scored - 20

Another Uruguayan who has consistently been good this season, Suarez did have a dip in form in the middle. However, he has perhaps the best support systems in the world and as such, the Uruguayan was bound to flourish once again. And he had a decent month of March which has helped him stay put in the second position in this list.

Suarez failed to score in the first game of the month against Real Madrid, but has scored 4 goals in his last five games since. Incidentally, Barcelona have won 4 of those 5 games and are 11 points clear at the top of the table. The only game Suarez failed to score in this period was the 2-0 win over Espanyol at home.

The Uruguayan has found the back of the net 20 times from 30 appearances this season and is averaging a goal every 128 minutes played. He has attempted 86 shots in La Liga so far, 51 of which have been on target.

#1 Lionel Messi (Argentina, Barcelona) 🢀 🢂

Villarreal CF v FC Barcelona - La Liga
Villarreal CF v FC Barcelona - La Liga

Goals Scored - 33

Even attempting to describe Lionel Messi's season is a daunting task right now. The Argentine has been in scintillating form this season and has been making and breaking records at will. People have lost count of his achievements and quite frankly, it hardly matters. Messi had an outstanding month of March and has captained Barcelona to an 11-point lead at the top of the table.

The Argentine scored 6 goals from 4 games in March, which included a brilliant hat-trick against Real Betis, a feat that saw him being applauded by the opposition fans as well. Messi has scored in all of his last 5 games in the league, finding the net 8 times in that period!

The Barcelona skipper has scored an astonishing 33 goals from 29 appearances this season. He is averaging a goal every 72 minutes played! Unbelievable, but true.

At the start of April, Messi is the number one contender for La Liga Golden Boot and is 13 goals ahead of his nearest competition. It is impossible to imagine Messi not winning a record 6th La Liga Golden Boot at the end of the season.

Join us again next month, as we assess the latest developments in the La Liga Golden Boot race. Till then, Goodbye!

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Edited by Samya Majumdar