The top 10 highest goalscorers in La Liga.
Lionel Messi could well hit the headlines in a big way over the next weeks, with the Argentinian wizard needing five goals to break the all-time Spanish goalscoring record – with winnable games again Rayo Vallecano and Eibar coming up.
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Here is the list of the top ten goalscorers in Spanish football currently, from the 1929 season onwards, with Messi tantalisingly close to first place. All figures are correct at the time of writing:
10) Cristiano Ronaldo (187)
Former Manchester United star Cristiano Ronaldo is down in 10th on the list, having scored 187 goals since he made the move to Real Madrid – his ratio of more than a goal a game, however, blows the competition out of the water.
9) Edmundo Suarez (195 goals)
Valencia legend Edmundo Suarez scored 197 goals during his career in the first half of the 20th century and is still the club’s all time record goalscorer, with the likes of modern forward Roberto Soldado not having matched up.
8) Pahino (210 goals)
One of few players on the list to score his goals for numerous clubs, the legendary Pahino scored more than 210 goals, most notably for Real Madrid, but also during spells with Celta Vigo and Deportivo La Coruna.
7) Quini (219 goals)
Another Spanish goalscoring blast from the past, Quini scored 219 goals during an illustrious career that took him to Barcelona and the Nou Camp. Quini’s best goalscoring feats, however, came during two long spells with unfashionable side Sporting Gijon.
6) Cesar Rodriguez (223 goals)
Another Barcelona legend to make it onto this list of high scorers is Cesar Rodriguez, who scored the bulk of his 223 goals at the Nou Camp, but also a handful for Elche later on in his career.
5) Alfredo di Stefano (227 goals)
The late, great former Real Madrid striker Alfredo di Stefano is 5th on this list, the prolific striker, who played internationally for both Argentina and Spain, scored 227 goals during his glittering career in Spain.
4) Raul (228 goals)
Another Real Madrid legend to make it onto the list, one goal ahead of the great di Stefano, is Raul – a player who was the goalscoring king of the Bernabeu before his departure to Schalke and the arrival of Cristiano Ronaldo.
3) Hugo Sanchez (234 goals)
One of a select group of players to have turned out for all three of the major Madrid clubs, Atletico Madrid, Real Madrid and Rayo Vallecano, Mexican superstar striker scored 234 goals during his La Liga career.
2) Lionel Messi (248 goals)
The irrepressible Barcelona legend Lionel Messi may be facing tax evasion charges in Spain – but few on the Iberian Peninsula can match up to Messi’s stunning goalscoring exploits. It is only a matter of time before Messi breaks this record – potentially this month.
1) Telmo Zarra (252 goals)
The all-time top goalscorer in Spanish history, for the time being at least, is not a legend of either Real Madrid or Barcelona, but the third team never to have been relegated from the top flight, Basque side Athletic Bilbao. Telmo Zarra scored a stunning 252 goals for the club.