When it comes to the top scorer in La Liga, we know the drill by now. If it’s not Ronaldo, it’s Messi, and vice versa.
The pair have shared the Pichichi trophy between them every year since Diego Forlan scored 32 goals for Atletico Madrid in 2008/09. It’s 3-3, for those of you keeping score.
But now, for the first time this decade, we’re preparing for a different player to take the honours, and it’s one of Forlan’s long-time international team-mates.
Step forward Luis Suarez.
The Uruguayan was playing catch-up in his first La Liga season thanks to a FIFA ban accrued at the 2014 World Cup, but this year he has been able to enjoy a full campaign alongside Neymar and Messi, aside from the brief period where the Argentine was out injured.
2009/10 was the last season to see the Pichichi won by a player scoring less than one goal a game, and this season is no exception.
Suarez has scored 40 times in 35 league appearances, including 14 in the last five games of the season, to help Barcelona recover from a mini-blip to edge out the two Madrid clubs and lift the title.
With a further 19 goals in cup competitions the 29-year-old has enjoyed his best ever goalscoring season from a personal perspective and could find himself in contention for next year’s Ballon d’Or.
https://twitter.com/eaamalyon/status/731512853904130048
Luis Suárez delivering Barcelona the title. What a player he's been for them this season. Delivered at the pivotal moment unlike some…
— Liam Canning (@LiamPaulCanning) May 14, 2016
