La Liga: Who Will Win The Pichichi 09/10?

Having delved earlier into the history behind Spain’s prestigious Pichichi award, the obvious question to consider now is – who will win this season’s Pichichi? In part 2 of this Pichichi special let’s take a look at the Spanish Primera Liga’s main candidates after 13 games played:

1) David Villa (Valencia / Spain)

With 11 goals so far this season David Villa has clearly not allowed the disappointment of last summer’s botched move out of Valencia to get the better of him. A proven goalscorer in Spain Villa has once again been majestic for Los Che, linking up with David Silva, Pablo, Juan Mata and co to hit an incredible tally of 11 goals in 12 games. Carry on at that rate and Marca might have to consider renaming the whole trophy after him.

2) Zlatan Ibrahimovic (FC Barcelona / Sweden)

A newcomer to Spanish football, Zlatan Ibrahimovic has taken to life in the Catalan capital like the proverbial duck to H20. Banging in more goals than *insert generic Tiger Woods joke here*, the man they call Ibracadabra has thus far coped admirably with what appeared to be the daunting prospect of replacing Cameroonian goal machine and one time Pichichi Samuel Eto’o. The Swedish international striker boasts a formidable strike rate so far in 2009/2010 with 10 goals in 12 games played, including a memorable volleyed winner at Camp Nou to settle the clasico against Real Madrid.

3) Lionel Messi (FC Barcelona / Argentina)

With just over a third of the La Liga season gone, Ballon D’Or winner Lionel Messi is lurking menacingly around the top of the goalscoring charts looking to add further individual honours to what must already be a glistening mantelpiece. Messi has hit 9 league goals in 13 games for Barça so far this campaign, currently leaving him 3rd in the charts. Previous Argentinean winners of the Pichichi include Juan Antonio Pizzi, Alfredo di Stefano and Mario Kempes. Messi would be joining highly illustrious company indeed were he to end the season as La Liga’s top scorer.

4) Roberto Soldado (Getafe / Spain)

A product of the Real Madrid youth system, Roberto Soldado burst onto the goalscoring scene on the opening day of La Liga 2009/2010 with a blistering hat-trick for current club Getafe at Racing Santander in a 4-1 away win. This did little to enhance Soldado’s Pichichi potential in the eyes of Spanish bookmakers – he remained a rank outsider in the betting stakes, but the 24-year-old has kept the goals coming in his second season at Getafe and sits narrowly behind the aforementioned golden boot frontrunners. 6 of Soldado’s 8 league goals have actually come in just two games via two hat-tricks, the other one against Xerez in late November. With Rubin Kazan heavily linked with a move for Soldado in the next transfer window however, the Spaniard’s run for the Pichichi may not make it past January.

4=) Luís Fabiano (Sevilla / Brazil)

10 games, 8 goals for the Sevilla and Brazil frontman who has steadily but surely secured his status as one of the finest strikers in the world game over the last year or so. A hothead at times, Fabiano continues to be linked with a move away from the Andalucian outfit, with Milan continually touted as the most likely next destination. Either way his efforts on the pitch remain undiminished by the rumours and Luis Fabiano remains well in the hunt for the Pichichi.

6) Aritz Aduriz (Real Mallorca / Spain)

Signed by Real Mallorca in 2008 as a direct replacement for previous Pichichi winning striker Dani Guiza, who was Turkey-bound, Aritz Aduriz has done a good job for the islanders so far, making it understandable as to why Athletic Bilbao fans were so displeased to see him go. He was Mallorca’s top scorer in 08/09 with a reasonable tally of 11 goals, and already has 7 in 10 appearances so far this season. Curiously, Aduriz hasn’t managed a single away goal this season, scoring every one of his 7 goals at home. If he can start knocking them in away from home perhaps Real Mallorca will be able to proudly boast 2 Pichichi winners in 3 seasons come next May.

6=) Sergio Kun Agüero (Atletico Madrid / Argentina)

Atletico Madrid are having a miserable time of it in 2009/2010 what with their indifferent league form and the cruel way in which the
y were casually dispatched from the Champions League. But on a personal level, their number 10 Kun Agüero continues to shine. Tied joint sixth with Aduriz in the scoring charts, Agüero certainly seems destined for great things and 7 goals in 13 league games for a struggling side merely exemplifies his frightening potential. At a top club this guy would be truly lethal. Will he follow in teammate Diego Forlán’s footsteps and bring Atletico a second consecutive Pichichi award?

Bubbling just underneath the surface of these seven major marksmen are 6 players on 6 goals. They are Cristiano Ronaldo, Walter Pandiani, Seydou Keita, Diego Forlán, Diego Costa and Gonzalo Higuaín. After 13 games here are the top 13 in chart format, click to enlarge:

So with all that in mind who are you backing to win the Pichichi in 2009/2010?

One Spanish bookmaker is dismissive of Soldado’s and Aduriz’s chances in particular from that list citing Villa, Ibrahimovic, Messi, Fabiano and Cristiano Ronaldo as the top 5 favourites in that order. Is that fair? Can you envisage any outsiders sneaking in to take the crown over the course of the season? I have to say Diego Forlán is definitely the one I’d pick for a cheeky outside bet. What do you think?

Tell us who you think will win the Pichichi and why, and don’t forget to cast your vote in the poll down the right hand side.

Cristiano Ronaldo, David Villa, Diego Forlan, Lionel Messi, Luis Fabiano, Pichichi, Roberto Soldado, Sergio Aguero, Spain, Spanish Primera Division, Zlatan Ibrahimovic