As banners unfurled and tributes echoed through the Santiago Bernabeu, Sunday’s La Liga finale was steeped in nostalgia, appreciation, and quiet regret. While the match carried no title implications for Real Madrid, it became a night of personal milestones and farewell tributes — most notably for Carlo Ancelotti and Luka Modric, who were celebrated for their enduring legacies. Yet, on the pitch, it was Kylian Mbappe who turned the page with a performance that earned him a significant, albeit bittersweet, accolade.
The French superstar netted twice against Real Sociedad to lead Madrid to a 2-0 win in their final La Liga fixture of the 2024-25 season. It was a performance that brought a measure of closure to a year without major silverware — but also propelled Mbappe to the top of Spain’s scoring charts.
The emotion in the stands didn’t distract from the business on the field. The Frenchman, whose first season in white has lacked major trophies, had one more thing to play for: the prestigious Pichichi, awarded to La Liga’s top scorer.
The goals that crowned a top scorer
Mbappe started brightly, though he missed early chances and had a poor penalty attempt saved by Unai Marrero. However, he showed sharp instincts to convert the rebound and give Madrid the lead — and with it, take control of the Golden Boot race.
His second goal came after Vinicius Junior, returning from injury, squared the ball for an easy finish, marking Mbappe’s final strike of the league season. With this brace, he effectively sealed the Pichichi, as Barcelona’s Robert Lewandowski trailed by six goals and failed to score in the penultimate fixtures.
“With 31 goals, Mbappe now has a six-goal lead over Lewandowski on matchday 38 of La Liga,” reported Diario AS. “The Frenchman scored nine goals in his last five matches to take the lead in the scoring charts.”
| Position | Player name | Club | Total goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Kylian Mbappe | Real Madrid | 31 |
| 2. | Robert Lewandowski | Barcelona | 27 |
| 3. | Ante Budimir | Osasuna | 21 |
| 4. | Alexander Sorloth | Atletico Madrid | 20 |
| 5. | Ayoze Perez | Villarreal | 19 |
Star’s shining but trophyless season
Despite the scoring crown, the 26-year-old first season in the Spanish capital will be remembered for its near-misses. Los Blancos finished second in La Liga, behind champions Barcelona, who also defeated them in the Copa del Rey and Spanish Super Cup finals.
“For Mbappe, the Pichichi will be a consolation prize, after a first season without major titles with the Casa Blanca,” said Mundo Deportivo. Instead, he leaves 2024-25 with only the UEFA Super Cup and the Intercontinental Cup — trophies of lesser significance in the grand scheme.
