At Barça they are clear: Robert Lewandowski's 42 goals haven't been enough to win the Pichichi again. Nor the Golden Boot.
Both awards go to Kylian Mbappé, who has benefited from the privilege of wearing Real Madrid's badge in front of referees.
Kylian Mbappé has been crowned as the Golden Boot and European Pichichi with 31 goals in LaLiga. The media machinery of Madridism is already celebrating him as the new king of goals, but there's a fact no one wants to mention: 7 of his 31 goals were penalties. If those goals from the penalty spot are subtracted, Mbappé and Lewandowski tie at 24 goals in open play.
The French forward arrives at Real Madrid in his first year in Spain and takes all the spotlight. But his numbers are inflated by the white advantage: at Bernabéu, penalties have a fixed owner.
In contrast, Lewandowski only took 3 penalties this season, scoring 27 total goals. When it comes to open play goals, the Pole remains at the top, at 36 years old.
Mbappé, the penalty king at Real Madrid
It's no coincidence that the same player always takes the penalties at Madrid. Mbappé's arrival has even displaced Vinicius from the penalty spot. That has a direct impact on the scoreboard and individual awards.
If we break down the numbers, the difference is drastically reduced:
Mbappé: 31 goals (7 penalties) → 24 in open play
Lewandowski: 27 goals (3 penalties) → 24 in open play
The result: a technical tie, but with a very different treatment from the media.
The most debated Golden Boot
Should a penalty be worth the same as a goal in open play? Many experts question it, and in this case, the statistics reveal an uncomfortable reality for Madridism. Mbappé's individual award doesn't reflect football superiority, but institutional advantage.
It's not the first time it happens. At Barça, penalties are shared and there are no strict hierarchies. While at Madrid, the priority is clear: to inflate the numbers of the star signing.
Lewandowski stands with dignity
Despite his age, Lewandowski has once again shown that he remains one of the best scorers on the planet. Without penalties, his performance is identical to that of a physically prime Mbappé. But the spotlight, as always, points to Castellana.