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Hello and welcome back to our assessment of the top contenders for La Liga Golden Boot at the start of May. With just 3 more rounds left to play, and Barcelona already being crowned the champions, all eyes are now on the contenders as we edge towards the culmination of the race.
Also Read: Top Contenders for the La Liga Golden Boot - April 2019
April was a moderately fruitful month for most players in the race and the rankings have seen some significant changes. With just a handful of games left, it is highly unlikely that the final list will have too many changes from the one that we see at the start of May. Read on to find out the top contenders for La Liga Golden Boot at the start of May 2019.
#10 Jaime Mata (Spain, Getafe)🡻🡻
Goals Scored - 14
The Spaniard endured a tough month of April which saw him drop down two places in the list. Mata was 8th among the top contenders at the start of April, but a poor run of form saw him drop to 10th at the start of May. As of now, Mata has no chance of catching the man at the top of the pile, who has scored 20 goals more than the Spaniard!
Mata started in all six games for Getafe in the month of April but could only manage a solitary goal. Incidentally, his goal came in the 3-0 win against Sevilla at home, one of the only two wins for his club last month. Getafe drew the other three and lost once.
As of now, the Spaniard has scored 14 goals from 32 appearances in La Liga. He is averaging a goal every 165 minutes played and has also registered six assists so far. Mata has a 53% shot accuracy in La Liga; he has attempted 52 shots, 26 of which have been on target. However, none of that was enough to give the Spaniard a shot at securing La Liga Golden Boot this season.
#9 Charles (Brazil, SD Eibar) 🡻 🡻
Goals Scored - 14
The Brazilian is ahead of Mata only by virtue of having a superior minutes per goal in La Liga. While the Spaniard has scored a goal every 165 minutes played, Charles has scored a goal every 116 minutes played. However, just like Mata, the Brazilian endured a difficult month of April, which saw him drop two places down in this list. He was 7th in our assessment at the start of April, but starts the month of May in 9th position.
Charles managed two goals in the month from the six games he played played. He scored against Rayo Vallecano in the 2-1 win at the start of the month and next scored again at the end of April, in the 1-0 win over Valencia. Incidentally, those two were the only wins for SD Eibar in April.
The Brazilian has scored 14 goals from 32 games in La Liga this season and also has one assist to his name. He has attempted 52 shots, 26 of which have been on target.
#8 Raul de Tomas (Spain, Rayo Vallecano) 🢁
Goals Scored - 14
The Spaniard missed the last two games of the month due to a combination of suspension and selection decisions. However, De Tomas was prudent enough in April, scoring twice in four games. Unfortunately, it looks like it might not be enough to save his team from relegation as Rayo Vallecano are six points away from safety at 19th place in the table with three games remaining.
De Tomas scored in the win over Valencia and in the defeat against Athletic Bilbao as his team lost three of the six games in April, winning twice and drawing the other. The Spaniard now has 14 goals from 30 games and has climbed up in this list only by virtue of a better goals per game ratio. De Tomas is averaging a goal every 182 minutes played and also has one assist to his name in the league. He has registered 86 shots so far – only Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez have more – and 45 of those have been on target.
#7 Antoine Griezmann (France, Atletico Madrid) 🢁🢁🢁
Goals Scored - 15
The Frenchman had a fruitful month, yet it was not enough to help Atletico Madrid mount a title challenge. Diego Simeone’s men played a near flawless month of April, only to come short against their title rivals as Barcelona were too ruthless in their quest for glory. However, it did help Griezmann climb three places to 7th in the rankings at the start of May. Sadly, it is too little too late for the Frenchman as it is impossible for him now to win the Golden Boot.
Griezmann started in five of the six games in April, and scored three goals – against Girona, Celta Vigo and Valencia. Atletico Madrid won five of the six games in the month, facing defeat only at the hands of Barcelona at the Camp Nou, a game where Griezmann failed to find the back of the net.
At the start of May, the Frenchman has 15 goals from 34 games in La Liga and has also registered 9 assists in the league. He is averaging a goal every 195 minutes played.
#6 Iago Aspas (Spain, Celta Vigo) 🢀 🢂
Goals Scored - 16
The Spaniard has a bigger issue at hand, something that is of greater importance to the collective requirements of his team. Celta Vigo are still hovering near the relegation zone, even though a better goal difference sees them currently occupy the 15th place. They are currently on 37 points and a strong finish to the season should help them secure their La Liga status. And the Spaniard, who has singlehandedly brought them so far, will be key to their survival once more.
Aspas returned from injury at the end of March and had a phenomenal month of April. The Spaniard scored four goals in five games last month and also provided four assists. Incidentally, Celta Vigo won two and drew three of those five games. Their only defeat in April was against Atletico Madrid, a game where Aspas was serving a yellow card suspension.
As of now, the Spaniard has 16 goals and six assists from 24 games in La Liga. He is currently averaging a goal every 124 minutes played. Even though Aspas does not have a realistic chance of winning the Golden Boot, he would be equally content if a stay in La Liga for Celta Vigo is secured.
#5 Wissam Ben Yedder (France, Sevilla) 🢀 🢂
Goals Scored - 17
The Frenchman had a poor month of April, where he scored just one goal from six games. Sevilla, who were once challenging Barcelona for the title, gave up their title ambitions meekly and are now at a danger of missing out a top four place. It is a stark change of fortunes for the side, even though they did win four of their six games in the month.
Ben Yedder started in all of those six games but struggled to find the back of the net. He did pick up assists in the wins over Alaves and Real Betis but his solitary goal in the month came against Rayo Vallecano. Most importantly, Ben Yedder failed to score in the 3-0 defeat at the hands of Getafe, which dealt Sevilla a heavy blow in their quest for Champions League football next season.
The Frenchman has scored 17 goals and has provided eight assists in 32 games in La Liga this season, but stands no realistic chance of winning the Golden Boot this time.
#4 Cristhian Stuani (Uruguay, Girona) 🡻
Goals Scored - 18
The Uruguayan had a disappointing month of April, where he missed a game through muscle injury and scored just one goal in five games. Girona lost five of their six games in the month, and are in serious danger of slipping into the relegation zone. With just three games left, they sit at 17th place in the table, just two points ahead of Valladolid at 18th.
Stuani missed the first game of the month, a defeat against Atletico Madrid, through injury. He made a goalscoring return to the team in the following game against Espanyol, but it was not enough to secure victory. Since then, the Uruguayan has failed to score in his last four games. With the relegation battle intensifying right now, Stuani will need his goalscoring boots back immediately.
The Uruguayan has scored 18 goals from 31 games in La Liga so far and is averaging a goal every 147 minutes played. Even though he has no chance of winning the Golden Boot now, Stuani will be desperate for goals to help his team avoid relegation.
#3 Karim Benzema (France, Real Madrid) 🢁
Goals Scored - 21
The Frenchman has been one of the most improved players in the league of late and Zinedine Zidane's return to the Bernabeu seems to have rejuvenated him. Benzema was spectacular in the month of April, scoring seven goals in five games. However, it was not enough to help Real Madrid challenge for the league as Barcelona ran away with the title with ease.
Benzema started the month by scoring seven goals in his first four games, which also included a brilliant hat-trick against Athletic Bilbao. He failed to score against Getafe before missing the final game against Rayo Vallecano through a muscle injury.
The Frenchman has now scored 21 goals and has picked up five assists from 34 games, which sees him climb up to 3rd place in this list. He misses out on the second place only due to an inferior goals per game ratio. Benzema is currently averaging a goal every 133 minutes played, but sadly, has no realistic chance of winning the Golden Boot this season.
#2 Luis Suarez (Uruguay, Barcelona) 🢀 🢂
Goals Scored - 21
The Uruguayan has been integral to the way Barcelona play and he has complemented his strike partners very well this season. Suarez has also been among goals this year and has delivered almost every time he has been called upon. The Uruguayan had a decent month of April, scoring three goals in five La Liga games.
Suarez started the month with a goal against Villareal in a pulsating 4-4 draw. He scored in the following game against Atletico Madrid, but also picked up his 5th yellow card of the season. As a result, he was suspended for the game against SD Huesca, where Barcelona fielded a youthful side, and the game ended 0-0.
The Uruguayan returned to the first team against Real Sociedad, but failed to score. He was back among goals in the following game, scoring in the 2-0 win over Alaves. Last weekend, he failed to score against Levante, but Barcelona won the game and the league, thanks to Messi’s solitary goal.
Suarez has now scored 21 goals from 33 games, and has also registered six assists in the league. He is averaging a goal every 135 minutes played.
#1 Lionel Messi (Argentina, Barcelona) 🢀 🢂
Goals Scored - 34
With 34 goals from 32 games this season, Messi remains the front runner for La Liga Golden Boot once again this season. The Barcelona skipper is almost certain to win a record-equaling 6th Golden Boot by the end of the season and is also the front runner for the European Golden Boot. He has been a true leader for the Barcelona side this season and has masterfully guided them to the league title again.
However, Messi had a less than average month of April, where he scored three goals from five games, which included three substitute appearances. With Barcelona also competing for the UEFA Champions League, it is understandable that Ernesto Valverde wanted to rest his talisman. But Messi did come off the bench to save his team twice in April, against Villareal at the start of the month and against Levante last weekend.
The Argentinean is miles ahead of the competition in Spain, and is averaging a goal every 74 minutes played. At the start of May, Lionel Messi looks destined to win another La Liga Golden Boot by the end of the season.
