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As far as attacking football is concerned, La Liga is right up there among Europe's elite leagues. Spanish football is historically renowned for its technical intricacies, and La Liga has managed to attract some of the greatest attacking talents of the modern game.
La Liga is well over a century old and has witnessed generations of legends grace its stadiums. The likes of Alfredo Di Stefano, Johan Cruyff, Diego Maradona, and Ronaldo have enthralled Spanish fans over the years and have created some lasting memories.
La Liga has grown in stature since the turn of the century
Barcelona and Real Madrid are Spain's traditional footballing powerhouses and have become stronger than ever in the 21st century. While both clubs have had their fair share of roadblocks in recent years, it is safe to say that they remain among the best clubs in Europe.
Atletico Madrid have also joined the fray in the last few years and have pulled off a few stunning results under Diego Simeone. The three Spanish behemoths rely heavily on their star-studded attacking forces and can be unstoppable in their prime.
Without further ado, let's take a look at La Liga's most prolific goalscorers since the 2011-12 season.
#5 Antoine Griezmann (149 goals)
Antoine Griezmann's meteoric rise is a testament to La Liga's ability to create gems and grant them the limelight. The French striker started his La Liga career with Real Sociedad but scaled the heights of his potential under Diego Simeone at Atletico Madrid.
With 149 goals in his last ten seasons in La Liga, Griezmann has become one of the league's most illustrious forwards. The Frenchman thrives in a creative role and has scored some of La Liga's most memorable goals in recent years.
Griezmann has taken his time to step up at Barcelona but has improved over the past year under Ronald Koeman. The former Atletico Madrid man scored 13 La Liga goals last season and will be looking to reach new heights this year.
#4 Luis Suarez (168 goals)
Of all the mistakes Barcelona have made in recent years, selling Luis Suarez to their title rivals was arguably their biggest. The Uruguayan striker propelled Atletico Madrid to an unprecedented La Liga title last season, scoring an impressive 21 goals in the process.
Suarez is one of the most successful strikers in Barcelona's recent history and was one of the most potent players in Luis Enrique's Blaugrana setup. The former Liverpool man is also the only player other than Messi and Ronaldo to have won the Pichichi award over the past decade. He outscored his two legendary contemporaries with a sensational 40-goal tally in the 2015-16 season.
Luis Suarez still has what it takes to make a massive impact in La Liga and has already defied his critics this past year. The Atletico Madrid hitman has been given a new lease of life by Diego Simeone and will likely be a handful yet again this season.
Also Read: Ranking the 5 players with most Ballon d'Or top 3 appearances
#3 Karim Benzema (169 goals)
Karim Benzema has often been overshadowed by some of La Liga's bigger names but that takes nothing away from his contributions to the league. The Real Madrid striker has singlehandedly carried his team to several trophies under Zinedine Zidane and has become a talisman at the club.
Benzema's impressive tally of 169 goals over the past decade has only been surpassed by the two usual suspects in La Liga's goalscoring charts. The Frenchman has played a pivotal role in Real Madrid's fortunes, particularly since Cristiano Ronaldo's departure.
The Real Madrid striker inspired his side to an unprecedented La Liga title in the 2019-20 season, scoring an impressive 21 goals in the process. Karim Benzema has been a loyal contributor to the Los Blancos cause and will go down in history as a La Liga legend.
#2 Cristiano Ronaldo (243 goals)
Cristiano Ronaldo has scored an astonishing 311 goals in 292 appearances in La Liga. With over 1.07 goals scored per game, the Portuguese striker is statistically more prolific than all the other names on this list, including his arch-rival Lionel Messi.
Ronaldo has spent seven of his last ten seasons in La Liga and is Real Madrid's most impressive goalscorer of all time. The former Los Blancos talisman was one of La Liga's best players before his departure to Juventus and flourished under a number of different managers.
Cristiano Ronaldo is an incredible athlete and his relentless drive to be the best player in the world has yielded some incredible numbers. The Portuguese superstar might not have spent his entire career in Spain but is already one of the greatest players to have ever featured in La Liga.
#1 Lionel Messi (355 goals)
It comes as no surprise to anyone that Lionel Messi tops this list. As far as consistent goalscoring is concerned, only a handful of players can claim to be within sight of the Argentine maestro.
With 355 goals in his last 10 seasons, Lionel Messi has been virtually unstoppable in La Liga. The Barcelona captain averages over 35 goals per season and his numbers in La Liga are unlikely to ever be surpassed.
Despite transitioning into an effective playmaker in recent years, Lionel Messi's goal tally continues to skyrocket. Messi finished the 2020-21 season as La Liga's top scorer with an astonishing 30 goals and remains the best player in the world.
Also Read: Ranking the 5 best signings made in the transfer window so far
