Lionel Messi tops LaLiga Santander's scoring charts for the fourth consecutive season at this point of the campaign.
It's not exactly news that the Argentinian is outscoring everyone in Spain, but what's curious is that he's doing it with just 14 goals to his name.
The No.10 is leading the Pichichi charts with a one goal lead over Karim Benzema, in what is the low scoring pursuit of Spanish football's award for the top scorer.
It's an unprecedented low in recent years, and not since 2006/07 were the top scoring players on such a low total after 23 rounds of fixtures.
In that season it was Diego Milito who led the way on 13 strikes, closely followed by Ruud van Nistelrooy with 11.
Van Nistelrooy went on to score 14 more in the final 14 rounds and finished the season as Pichichi with 25 goals.
Winners of the award in recent seasons have tended to have more goals to their name by now.
Messi had 25 in 2018/19, 18 in 2017/18 and 23 in 2016/17, while Luis Suarez had 24 by now in 2015/16 and Cristiano Ronaldo had 24 in 2015/16 when he last won.
The Barcelona captain's current numbers are even lower than Diego Forlan's 19 in 2008/19 and Luis Fabiano's 22 in 2007/08.
The lowest scoring LaLiga Santander since 2006/07
It's not just the Pichichi hopefuls who are struggling to find the net, but the entirety of LaLiga Santander is struggling for goals this term.
So far, 583 goals have been scored, which is the lowest number in 13 years.
It should be noted, though, that there have been just five goals fewer than there were at this same stage last season, perhaps highlighting Cristiano Ronaldo's impact during his stay in Spain.
With Messi and Ronaldo competing in the same division, the total never fell below 600 at this point.
Without the Portuguese, the figures have dropped below 600 again, just as they did in 2007/08 (593) and in 2006/07 (540).
The precedent of 2006/07 bodes well for Real Madrid, as Fabio Capello's side went on to win the title then with Van Nistelrooy topping the scoring charts.
Only Ligue 1 has fewer goals
Across Europe's five major leagues, only France's top tier is showing lower figures than Spain's.
After 23 rounds only 573 goals were scored in France, 10 fewer than in Spain.
In the Premier League, 635 had been scored, there have been 610 already in just 21 Bundesliga rounds, while Italy's Serie A has more goals than the rest with 671.
LaLiga Santander struggling in the Golden Boot
It's a rarity for Spain's sides to not be represented in the Golden Boot race.
Since 2008/09 every winner of the award has played in Spain.
Diego Forlan won it then at Atletico Madrid, Messi has since won six, Cristiano Ronaldo got three and one of those was shared with Luis Suarez, who himself has won it once.
But this season Messi is only on 28 points, some way short of Lazio's Ciro Immobile who has 50 and sits top of the leaderboard.
joeabdmtyz
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FutureCR7
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CR7 effect 101
FutureCR7
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Nobody is there to take penalty anymore
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Remove the penalty CR7 still pass Messi
Ab-Barca197
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These idiots can't just think and believe that defense might got improved in LaLiga and gone down in Serie A.. But no.. They will always bring Messi and Ronaldo topics unnecessarily..
Oh really..? Did u read Complete article..? Not a single team is able to scroe more goals in la Liga than previous year, leave Barca aside.. And obviously Seria A defense has gone bad, even Others are scoring along with Ronaldo and one can never believe thatba Serie A player is leading Golden boot race..
NILOYSDfoLM10
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Nobody is there to take penalty anymore
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and all the goals were scored in the box...not asingle out side box goal for cr7 ....
Thabomaswielelo
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These idiots can't just think and believe that defense might got improved in LaLiga and gone down in Serie A.. But no.. They will always bring Messi and Ronaldo topics unnecessarily..
come on like really... defense improved in la liga..wat a lame excuse,thos has nothing to do with la liga Barca is just out of form
AsherJack7
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CR6 effect
Chiboycash3
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Nobody is there to take penalty anymore
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how many penalties?
vipadknuz
0
CRISTIANO RONALDO EFFECT. AS BOTH OF THEM KEPT PUSHING EACH OTHER FOR MORE GOALS
there is no effect ..after Ronaldo left Messi scored golden boot against last season ..Messi missed too many goals due to injury beginning of the season ..
Ab-Barca197
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These idiots can't just think and believe that defense might got improved in LaLiga and gone down in Serie A.. But no.. They will always bring Messi and Ronaldo topics unnecessarily..
vipadknuz
1
even though Messi has 12 where as Ronaldo has 13
Messi did not pay first 5 matches of the league and also he plays as attacking midfileder , he seems like creating more than scoring ..
Yezcdeklu
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Nobody is there to take penalty anymore
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even though Messi has 12 where as Ronaldo has 13
BulgarianInter
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Serie A is higher quality this season for sure
Bobacpty
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Nobody is there to take penalty anymore
ankitttttttttrtr
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the reason why strikers are not doing good is coz it has gotten harder to score especially for strikers
It's not. The quality or form has run out. They are not consistent enough. Till last year everyone was doing it. Only Messi can score that many goals around 25 and I can't see any player doing it.
123mk
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No Ronaldo no party
fati-fc
3
don't judge too early...Messi only needs a few games to produce magic... wait till assist timw is over
Edoo87
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yes as Barca and real Madrid has low scoring
Ditbosyz
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Bro it's not the case. It happened after 2006-07. That means till now they were scoring more. Apart from Messi other strikers are not doing great in Laliga which include Benzema too.
the reason why strikers are not doing good is coz it has gotten harder to score especially for strikers
mzeereal
2
No one is competing with him. even if he has injury he will come back and still meet up.
ankitttttttttrtr
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it has gotten harder to score in la liga of course. not surprised that individual goals are difficult to come by
Bro it's not the case. It happened after 2006-07. That means till now they were scoring more. Apart from Messi other strikers are not doing great in Laliga which include Benzema too.
Zipaeknpty
6
Ronaldo is goal scoring machine he motivates everyone whenever he goes Spain was always on top because of him now Italy most defensive league but they top the charts because of one and the only one Cristiano Ronaldo
SiddharthDhanrajghir
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it has gotten harder to score in la liga of course. not surprised that individual goals are difficult to come by
CRISTIANO RONALDO EFFECT. AS BOTH OF THEM KEPT PUSHING EACH OTHER FOR MORE GOALS
ankitttttttttrtr
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to be honest i see benzema scoring at least 20. he needs to be appreciated. .maybe he can be top scorer if messi gets injured but hopefully not😂
Benzema have a chance but recently he has lost his form. Most of the goals for us coming from mid to defence. From last 6-7 games he had scored only 1-2 goals. He is losing form. It's very diffcult to keep form. I hope he scores but Laliga strikers are not good this season.
Ditbosyz
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That's the point. Messi is not in top form atleast in scoring department but the reason he is leading because other Laliga strikers are not good enough this season. Messi will surely pick form but can't see any other striker scoring even 20 goals which is rare for Laliga.
to be honest i see benzema scoring at least 20. he needs to be appreciated. .maybe he can be top scorer if messi gets injured but hopefully not😂
Ditbosyz
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it has gotten harder to score in la liga of course. not surprised that individual goals are difficult to come by
ankitttttttttrtr
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That's the point. Messi is not in top form atleast in scoring department but the reason he is leading because other Laliga strikers are not good enough this season. Messi will surely pick form but can't see any other striker scoring even 20 goals which is rare for Laliga.