Which player has won the Pichichi Trophy the most times?

Which player has won the Pichichi Trophy the most times? Lionel Messi. He won the award eight times, more than any other player in its history.

The Pichichi Trophy is presented by the Spanish sports newspaper Marca to La Liga’s leading scorer. It is named after Rafael “Pichichi” Moreno, the celebrated Athletic Bilbao striker of the early 20th century. Although the award began in 1952–53, earlier leading scorers were later recognised retrospectively.

Messi won all eight of his trophies with Barcelona. His winning seasons included 2009–10, 2011–12, 2012–13, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2018–19, 2019–20 and 2020–21. His record reflects both exceptional scoring totals and long-term consistency in one of Europe’s strongest leagues.

A common mix-up is Telmo Zarra, who won the trophy six times and held the record before Messi surpassed him. Hugo Sánchez won five, while Cristiano Ronaldo won three. The Pichichi is prestigious but is not officially administered by La Liga, and Marca’s scoring criteria can occasionally differ from official league records.