Top La Liga Goal Scorers in the 21st Century | OneFootball

The list is presented in inverse order, starting with number ten and counting down to number one.

10. Iago Aspas (RC Celta de Vigo, Sevilla FC)

Aspas with Celtic Vigo in 2011 (Source)

Iago Aspas has been a standout performer in La Liga, primarily with Celta de Vigo. After debuting in the 2007–08 season, he became a key player, scoring 12 goals in the 2012–13 campaign. Following brief stints at Liverpool and Sevilla, he returned to Celta in 2015 and has since solidified his legacy.

As of March 2025, Aspas has made 360 La Liga appearances, scoring 149 goals. A multiple-time Zarra Trophy winner, he recently equaled Samuel Eto’o with 162 league goals.

9. Aritz Aduriz (Athletic Bilbao, RCD Mallorca, Valencia CF)

(Source)

Aritz Aduriz had a distinguished La Liga career, primarily with Athletic Bilbao. He debuted in the 2002–03 season and, over 15 seasons, made 443 league appearances, scoring 158 goals.

Aduriz also played for Mallorca and Valencia, contributing significantly to both teams. Notably, he won the Zarra Trophy twice (2015–16, 2016–17) as the top Spanish scorer in La Liga. Renowned for his aerial prowess and finishing, Aduriz retired in 2020 as one of Spain’s most respected strikers.

8. Samuel Eto’o (Real Madrid, RCD Mallorca, FC Barcelona)

(Source)

Samuel Eto’o had a remarkable La Liga career, excelling at RCD Mallorca and FC Barcelona. After a brief spell at Real Madrid, where he made just three league appearances, he joined Mallorca in 2000, initially on loan before securing a permanent move. Over four seasons (2000–2004), Eto’o played 133 La Liga matches, scoring 54 goals and leading Mallorca to a Copa del Rey triumph in 2003.

His outstanding form earned him a transfer to Barcelona in 2004, where he became a key figure in their dominance. In five seasons (2004–2009), he scored 108 goals in 144 league appearances, winning three La Liga titles and the Pichichi Trophy in 2005–06 with 26 goals. Eto’o also made history by scoring in two UEFA Champions League finals (2006 and 2009), cementing his legacy as one of La Liga’s greatest strikers.

7. Antoine Griezmann (Real Sociedad, FC Barcelona, Atletico Madrid)

(Source)

Antoine Griezmann made his league debut with Real Sociedad in the 2010–11 season, quickly establishing himself as a promising young talent. Over four seasons, he made 141 league appearances and netted 41 goals, showcasing his attacking prowess.

In 2014, Griezmann joined Atlético Madrid, where he became a key figure in Diego Simeone’s system. During his first spell at the club (2014–2019), he played 180 La Liga matches and scored 94 goals, solidifying his reputation as one of the league’s top forwards. His performances earned him a move to FC Barcelona in 2019, where he spent two seasons, contributing 22 goals in 74 league appearances.

In 2021, Griezmann returned to Atlético Madrid, reaffirming his importance to the team. As of March 29, 2025, he has made 521 La Liga appearances, surpassing Lionel Messi as the foreign player with the most games in the competition’s history. Known for his versatility, work rate, and goal-scoring ability, Griezmann has cemented his legacy as one of La Liga’s greatest forwards.

6. Luis Suárez (FC Barcelona & Atletico Madrid)

(Source)

Luis Suárez had an exceptional La Liga career from 2014 to 2022, starring for both FC Barcelona and Atlético Madrid. During his six seasons with Barcelona (2014–2020), he played 191 league matches, scoring an impressive 147 goals and providing 74 assists.

His standout season came in 2015–16, when he converted 40 goals and recorded 17 assists, winning the Pichichi Trophy as La Liga’s top scorer and becoming the first player since 2009 to outscore both Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo in a league campaign. Suárez was instrumental in Barcelona’s dominance, helping them secure four La Liga titles.

In 2020, he joined Atlético Madrid, where he scored 34 goals in 67 league appearances across two seasons. His 21-goal tally in the 2020–21 season was crucial in leading Atlético to the La Liga title. Overall, Suárez amassed 178 goals and 80 assists in 258 La Liga matches, cementing his legacy as one of the league’s most lethal strikers.

5. David Villa (Real Zaragoza, Valencia, FC Barcelona, Atletico Madrid)

(Source)

David Villa enjoyed a stellar La Liga career from 2003 to 2014, representing Real Zaragoza, Valencia, Barcelona, and Atlético Madrid. Over 352 league appearances, he scored 185 goals and provided 58 assists, solidifying his reputation as one of Spain’s finest strikers. Villa first gained prominence at Real Zaragoza (2003-2005), where he scored 31 goals and helped the club win the Copa del Rey. His move to Valencia (2005-2010) saw him become a club icon, netting 108 goals in 166 games and leading Los Che to Copa del Rey success in 2007-08.

In 2010, Villa joined Barcelona, where he thrived under Pep Guardiola, winning two La Liga titles (2010-11, 2012-13) and the UEFA Champions League (2010-11), scoring 33 league goals in three seasons. His final La Liga campaign came with Atlético Madrid (2013-14), where his 13 goals played a crucial role in their historic league title triumph, breaking Barcelona and Real Madrid’s dominance.

4. Raúl González (Real Madrid)

(Source)

He won six La Liga titles and three UEFA Champions League trophies while serving as club captain from 2003. Known for his leadership and consistency, Raúl remarkably never received a red card in his La Liga career.

After leaving Real Madrid, he played for Schalke 04, Al Sadd, and New York Cosmos before retiring. His legacy as one of Spain’s greatest footballers remains unmatched.

3. Karim Benzema (Real Madrid)

(Source)

Karim Benzema’s La Liga career with Real Madrid spanned 14 seasons, from 2009 to 2023, establishing him as one of the club’s all-time greats. During this period, he made 439 league appearances, scoring 238 goals and providing countless assists. His versatility and technical brilliance allowed him to thrive both as a playmaker and a prolific goal scorer.

Following Cristiano Ronaldo’s departure in 2018, Benzema transitioned into Real Madrid’s primary attacking leader, significantly increasing his goal output. He was named in the La Liga Team of the Season for five consecutive years (2018-2023), won La Liga’s Best Player award twice, and secured the Pichichi Trophy as the league’s top scorer in 2022.

2. Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid)

(Source)

Cristiano Ronaldo played in La Liga for Real Madrid from 2009 to 2018, scoring 311 goals in 292 appearances, making him La Liga’s second all-time top scorer. His goal-per-game ratio of 1.07 is the highest in league history.

During his nine seasons, Ronaldo won two La Liga titles (2011-12, 2016-17) and claimed three Pichichi Trophies as the league’s top scorer. He scored 40+ goals in three different seasons and remains Real Madrid’s all-time top scorer with 451 goals in all competitions.

1. Lionel Messi (FC Barcelona)

(Source)

Lionel Messi’s illustrious La Liga career with FC Barcelona spanned from his debut on October 16, 2004, against Espanyol, to his departure in August 2021. Over 17 seasons, he made 520 league appearances, netting a record 474 goals, making him La Liga’s all-time top scorer. He also provided 106 assists, further highlighting his creative brilliance.

Messi holds the record for most goals from direct free kicks in La Liga with 39 and remains one of the league’s most consistent scorers. He netted 20+ goals in 13 consecutive seasons and 30+ goals in 7 different seasons, often topping the assist charts.