The story repeats itself. For more than a decade, Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo dominated the goal-scoring scene in Spain and Europe. Their rivalry helped them surpass each other and break impossible records.
The duos with Raphinha and Vinícius
The story repeats itself with Robert Lewandowski and Kylian Mbappé. The rivalry between them, which dates back to when the Polish forward played for Bayern, promises unreachable records.
Mbappé's first season in Spanish football has confirmed that goal-scoring in Spain and Europe is a matter of two. Although this time Raphinha has slipped in between the two.
However, Raphinha's role is not to score goals, and it is expected that he will eventually yield to the goal-scoring prowess of these two goal-scoring giants.
In any case, the Lewandowski-Raphinha duo has 29 goals while the one formed by Mbappé and Vinícius is at 23. This is the result of Barça's goal-scoring advantage in the table, with nine more goals than the whites.
Lewandowski scored in the last matchday in the 30 minutes Flick gave him against Valencia. Mbappé, meanwhile, scored a hat trick in Valladolid (one from a penalty).
Penalties favor Mbappé
It is noteworthy that two goals separate Mbappé from the lead in the Pichichi, although without penalties, the difference would be five goals. Lewandowski has scored two goals from the penalty spot. In contrast, Mbappé already has 5.
The two players carry the momentum with their teams' penalties. Real Madrid has been awarded 10 penalties in their favor. Barça, 4.
This is the race for the Pichichi
1 Lewandowski (FC Barcelona) 17 goals: 13 with the foot, 2 from penalties, 2 with the head, 0 from free kicks
2 Mbappé (R. Madrid) 15 goals: 10 with the foot, 5 from penalties, 0 with the head, 0 from free kicks
3 Raphinha (Barcelona) 12 goals
4 Budimir (Osasuna) 10 goals
5 Lukebakio (Sevilla) 9 goals
6 Kike García (Alavés) 8 goals
7 Sorloth (Atlético) 8 goals
8 Vinícius (R. Madrid) 8 goals
9 Ayoze (Villarreal) 8 goals
10 Lo Celso (Betis) 7 goals
This is the race for the Golden Boot
The goal-scoring battle between Lewandowski and Mbappé also extends to the European Pichichi, known as the Golden Boot.
The Pole is in third position, only surpassed by Salah and Haaland, although tied with Isak and Harry Kane.
The Frenchman is coming from behind. He is in ninth place and climbing.
1 Mohamed Salah (Liverpool): 19 goals (x2), 38 points
2 Erling Haaland (Manchester City): 18 goals (x2), 36 points
3 Robert Lewandowski (FC Barcelona): 17 goals (x2), 34 points
4 Alexander Isak (Newcastle): 17 goals (x2), 34 points
5 Harry Kane (Bayern Munich): 17 goals (x2), 34 points
6 Viktor Gyökeres (Sporting CP): 22 goals (x1.5), 33 points
7 Mateo Retegui (Atalanta): 16 goals (x2), 32 points
8 Omar Marmoush (Eintracht Frankfurt): 15 goals (x2), 30 points
9 Kylian Mbappé (Real Madrid): 15 goals (x2), 30 points
10 Cole Palmer (Chelsea): 14 goals (x2), 28 points