MADRID, SPAIN - SEPTEMBER 17: Kylian Mbappe of Real Madrid celebrates scoring his team's first goal during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD1 match between Real Madrid CF and VfB Stuttgart at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on September 17, 2024 in Madrid, Spain.

Pichichi race heats up as Kylian Mbappe catches Barcelona ace

Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images

Although FC Barcelona have obtained an advantage over their main rivals at the start of this La Liga season, this league campaign is showing promising signs of being a highly entertaining affair for the neutrals.

Last night, the title holders, Real Madrid, got a 4-1 victory over Espanyol, and thus reduced their deficit to a single point, though the Catalans still have to play in the matchday six, and this difference can return to 4 points if they win against Villarreal.

One of the scorers for Real Madrid in the match last night was Kylian Mbappe, who finally got his name on the scoresheet by scoring a penalty in the last moments of the game, after having failed to score from several earlier chances.

As SPORT has noted, with this goal, Mbappe has equaled the tally of Robert Lewandowski, and both forwards have four La Liga goals to their name now.

Both these players have already proven their ability to be the top scorers in their respective leagues. Lewandowski won the Pichichi during his first season at Barcelona, and is looking to get the award back in his hands, while Mbappe has won the top-scorers award for the last six seasons in Ligue 1, and thus will be trying to maintain his streak after joining Real Madrid last summer.

Artem Dovbyk won the Pichichi last year, but as he is no longer playing in La Liga, he will not be able to defend this title. The favorites currently are clearly Lewandowski and Mbappe, but they have up to nine players who share the third position with three goals, including Dani Olmo, Raphinha, Lamine Yamal, and Vinicius Junior.

The current Pichichi ranking is as follows:

  1. Robert Lewandowski (FC Barcelona) 4
  2. Kylian Mbappé (R. Madrid) 4
  3. Raphinha Dias (FC Barcelona) 3
  4. Lamine Yamal (FC Barcelona) 3
  5. Dani Olmo (FC Barcelona) 3
  6. Ayoze Pérez (Villarreal) 3
  7. Javi Puado (Espanyol) 3
  8. Borja Iglesias (Celta) 3
  9. Oihan Sancet (Athletic) 3
  10. Sandro Ramírez (Las Palmas) 3
  11. Vinicius Jr. (R. Madrid) 3
Tags Kylian Mbappe Pichichi race Robert Lewandowski