In addition to the La Liga title, FC Barcelona players also won some individual awards for the 2022-23 season. The most notable among these individual awards was the Pichichi won by Robert Lewandowski.
Lewandowski was the most lethal striker in La Liga throughout the last season, as he scored 23 goals to win the Pichichi trophy. Thus, he was able to successfully bring his goalscoring prowess that he was known for in Germany to Barcelona.
Benzema no longer in Spain
The biggest rival for Lewandowski for the Pichichi title last season was Real Madrid’s Karim Benzema. The two were among the best strikers playing in Europe, and they were already competing for being the best striker in Europe even when Lewandowski was still in Munich. However, in his first season at Barcelona, he was able to beat Benzema to the Pichichi award.
This summer, Benzema is no longer in Spain to compete with Lewandowski, as he has sealed a move to Saudi Arabia. With the Frenchman’s departure this summer, it seemed that there would be no player in La Liga who would be able to compete with the big Pole for being the top scorer this season.
Another Real Madrid player now threatens Lewandowski
However, with four matches having been played in La Liga, another Real Madrid player is emerging as the most likely competitor for Lewandowski for this award. This player is the new Real Madrid signing, Jude Bellingham, who has already scored five goals in his four games up to now.
With these five goals, Bellingham is currently leading the Pichichi table for this season, as highlighted by SPORT. Other players on this list include Alvaro Morata and former Barcelona players Takefuso Kubo and Memphis Depay.
The Catalans are currently represented on this list only by Ferran Torres. The standings as of now are as follows:
- 01: Jude Bellingham (R.Madrid) 5
- 02: Álvaro Morata (Atlético) 3
- 03: Take Kubo (R.Sociedad) 3
- 04: Christian Stuani (Girona) 2
- 05: Kike García (Alavés) 2
- 06: Ferran Torres (Barcelona) 2
- 07: Gorka Guruzeta (Athletic) 2
- 08: Mikel Vesga (Athletic) 2
- 09: Willian Jose (Betis) 2
- 10: Memphis Depay (Atletico) 2
Meanwhile, Lewandowski still has only one goal in La Liga, which he scored in the last match against Villarreal. Still, he is the favorite for this title this season, but the season is still in its beginning and any of the players can be the top scorer of the tournament by the time this La Liga season concludes.
