There are many questions surrounding the term “Pichichi” in football, so what is Pichichi and its role in the world of football? Join us at 100JILI to discover details about Pichichi in the article below.
What is Pichichi?
The Pichichi Award is an honor given to the outstanding player who scores the most goals in a soccer season. Originating from Spain, this award has been awarded by Marca magazine since 1952 until now.
To choose who deserves the award, Marca uses data from La Liga – the organization that manages the top football leagues in Spain, to determine the player who scores the most goals in the season and awards them.
The meaning of the Pichichi title in the football field
Although not an official award from sports betting organizations, the Pichichi Award represents the vibrant spirit of football. This is a title that players around the world aim for every year.
According to the award’s criteria, the player scores the most goals during the season, demonstrating honor, success, and class.
More than 20 players have received this honorary Pichichi award from 1973 to present. Some prominent individuals have won this award many times such as Lionel Messi 7 times and Telmo Zarra 6 times.
These achievements are recognized and difficult to surpass. Therefore, this precious award attracts the attention and determination of many players. It not only carries the meaning of reputation and honor but is also part of the career story. Of course, in sports, achieving more success also opens up more opportunities.
Similar to other football awards, the winner’s happiness is not only for them but also spreads to their teammates, fans, and hometown. Winning the Pichichi Award is a source of great pride, bringing great joy to the football community.
Top list of players named many times at Pichichi
1. Lionel Messi (Barcelona)
During the 2012 – 2013 season, Lionel Messi had the best performance of his career. He scored 45 goals in 32 matches, setting an impressive record.
In addition to the Pichichi title, Messi also won the Golden Boot – the award given to the player who scores the most goals in the English Premier League.
He also won the Pichichi and Golden Boot in 2009-2010 and 2011-2012. Those are true achievements that are difficult for anyone to surpass, creating a great monument and inspiring future generations of players.
2. Telmo Zarra (Athletic Bilbao)
Telmo Zarra is not far behind, winning the Pichichi award six times in seasons since 1940. During those years, he was a nightmare for opposing defenses. Every match he participated in became as intense as a whirlwind, the stands cheered with unforgettable consecutive goals.
Seeing the difficulties of the opponents and the fear of the teams facing Telmo Zarra, we realize that football is truly an art.
3. Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid)
In the 2014 – 2015 season, Cristiano Ronaldo won the Pichichi title with a total of 48 goals, although Lionel Messi left a big impression last season. Although Real Madrid did not win the La Liga championship, Ronaldo winning the Pichichi and the Golden Shoe still brought joy to the team and fans thanks to his beautiful goals.
4. Isidro Langara (Real Oviedo)
Legend of Real Oviedo, a famous player from San Lorenzo & Real Club during the team’s golden age from 1933 to 1936. He won the Pichichi Award 3 times in a row during his career.
During the peak of his career, he scored 27 goals in 18 matches.
5. Bata (Athletic Bilbao)
Legendary player Agustín Sauto Arana, also known by his nickname Bata, won the Pichichi award twice while playing for the Athletic Bilbao club. During the La Liga season in the 1930s, he scored a total of 108 goals in 118 matches.
6. Mariano Martín (Barcelona)
Both of Barcelona’s La Liga titles were credited to Mariano Martín. The peak of his career was when he scored 32 goals in just 23 matches in the 1942 – 1943 season. At that time, he won the only Pichichi title in his career.
Conclusion
The players who won the Pichichi title are all outstanding talents in the football world, not simply an award given by Marca newspaper. Hope you understand the meaning of Pichichi, as well as gain more useful knowledge about football.
