All-time top scorers in LaLiga

Ronaldo, Messi or Suarez, who is LaLiga’s all-time top scorer? 

There have been some great players who made their name in LaLiga. In fact, you could argue that LaLiga and Serie A are responsible for the majority of the greatest and best players to ever play the beautiful game. 

LaLiga also have two of the biggest clubs in the world, which explains why the league has always had big names. 

The Spanish top flight is also known for its attacking style, which is why it is not a surprise that some of the best attackers to play the game have plied their trade in Spain. 

With that said, we take a look at the all-time top scorers in the Spanish top flight. 

10. Pahiño- 212 goals 

Kicking off the list is Manuel Fernández Fernández, known as Pahino. Pahino scored a total of 212 LaLiga goals, playing for Real Madrid, Celta Vigo and Deportivo La Coruna.

The former Spain striker was equally brilliant for the three clubs, but scored the most goals for Real Madrid (111 in 124 games). Pahino also scored 57 in 82 games for Celta and 46 in 72 for Deportivo.

9. Quini- 219 goals 

Another Spanish striker, Enrique Castro González, aka Quini, is number nine on the list. Quini made 448 appearances in the Spanish top flight, scoring 219 goals. 

Most of his appearances came in the colours of Sporting Gijon, where he scored 165 goals in 348 games. He also had a spell with Barcelona, scoring 54 goals in 100 appearances. 

8. Cesar- 221 goals 

César Rodríguez Álvarez, known as Cesar, sits in eighth position with 221 goals in 553 games in LaLiga. 

Cesar had a 20-year career in the Spanish top flight, playing for teams like Barcelona, Granada, Cultural Leonesa and Eibar. 

He had his best spell with the Catalan giants, where he scored 190 goals in 287 appearances. 

7. Alfredo Di Stéfano- 227 goals 

One of the greatest players to ever play the game, Alfredo Di Stefano, is the seventh highest goalscorer in LaLiga history. 

Di Stefano, who represented both Spain and Argentina at the international level, scored 227 goals in 369 league games. 

Most of his time in Spain was with Real Madrid, where he scored 216 goals in 282 appearances. He also had a short stint with Espanyol, scoring 11 goals in 47 appearances. 

6. Raul- 228 goals 

One of the most prolific goal scorers of his generation, Raul Gonzalez, sits in sixth position. Raul was the king at Real Madrid for many years, winning numerous titles with Los Blancos, including the Champions League. The former Schalke 04 man scored 228 goals for Los Blancos in 550 LaLiga appearances. 

5. Hugo Sanchez- 234 goals 

Sanchez has the honour of being the only player to play for Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid. The Mexico international scored 234 goals in 347 games, with 164 coming in 207 games for Los Blancos. He scored 54 in 111 appearances for Madrid’s City rivals and another 16 for Rayo Vallecano. 

4. Karim Benzema-  238 goals 

When Benzema joined Real Madrid in 2009, his lack of end product was frustrating for the club’s fans. However, when he left in 2023, he was one of the prolific marksmen in the club’s history. 

Benzema scored 238 goals in 439 league appearances for Madrid, averaging 0.54 goals per game. 

3. Telmo Zarra- 251 goals 

Before the two aliens that occupy the number one and two spots, Zarra was the all-time top scorer in LaLiga history, and he did it playing for a club outside the big two. 

Zarra scored 251 goals in 277 league appearances for Athletic Bilbao, averaging 0.91 goals per game. He is a former Spain international, scoring 20 goals in 20 appearances for La Roja. 

2. Cristiano Ronaldo- 311 goals 

For over 15 years, Ronaldo was a top two player in the world, but nine out of those 15 years were spent playing for Real Madrid. 

During this time, Ronaldo would go band-for-band with his greatest rival. He became a goal machine at Real Madrid and was the focal point of Los Blancos' most successful period in the modern era. 

At the end of his ten-year spell at Real Madrid, Ronaldo had scored 311 goals in 292 appearances, averaging an astonishing 1.07 goals per game. 

1. Lionel Messi- 474 goals 

Sitting pretty at the top is the man many people call the GOAT, Lionel Messi. Messi had everything in his locker. 

He played for just Barcelona in Spain, making his debut for the club in 2004. Messi scored a whopping 474 goals in 520 appearances for the Blaugrana. 

He remains the player with goals in a calendar year with 91 goals in 2012. He once scored 50 league goals to finish as the top scorer in a season. 

Messi’s goals won Barcelona numerous trophies, including ten LaLiga titles and four Champions League.