As banners unfurled and tributes echoed through the Santiago Bernabeu, Sunday’s La Liga finale was steeped in nostalgia, appreciation, and quiet regret.&nbsp;While the match carried no title implications for Real Madrid, it became a night of personal milestones and farewell tributes — most notably for&nbsp;Carlo Ancelotti and Luka Modric, who were celebrated for their enduring legacies. Yet,&nbsp;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&nbsp;netted twice against Real Sociedad&nbsp;to lead Madrid to a&nbsp;2-0 win&nbsp;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.&nbsp;The Frenchman, whose first season in white has lacked major trophies, had one more thing to play for: the prestigious&nbsp;Pichichi, awarded to La Liga’s top scorer.



<h2>The goals that crowned a top scorer</h2>



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.



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<div class="ck-youtube"><iframe loading="lazy" title="HIGHLIGHTS | Real Madrid 2-0 Real Sociedad | LaLiga 2024/25" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/QP5eRkdyZN8?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>
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His second goal came after&nbsp;Vinicius Junior, returning from injury, squared the ball for an easy finish, marking Mbappe’s final strike of the league season.&nbsp;With this brace, he effectively sealed the Pichichi, as Barcelona’s&nbsp;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,”&nbsp;reported&nbsp;Diario AS.&nbsp;“The Frenchman scored nine goals in his last five matches to take the lead in the scoring charts.”



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table><thead><tr><th>Position</th><th scope="col">Player name</th><th scope="col">Club</th><th scope="col">Total goals</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>1.</td><td>Kylian Mbappe</td><td>Real Madrid</td><td>31</td></tr><tr><td>2.</td><td>Robert Lewandowski</td><td>Barcelona</td><td>27</td></tr><tr><td>3.</td><td>Ante Budimir</td><td>Osasuna</td><td>21</td></tr><tr><td>4.</td><td>Alexander Sorloth</td><td>Atletico Madrid</td><td>20</td></tr><tr><td>5.</td><td>Ayoze Perez</td><td>Villarreal</td><td>19</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



<h2>Star’s shining but trophyless season</h2>



Despite the scoring crown,&nbsp;the 26-year-old first season in the Spanish capital will be remembered for its near-misses. Los Blancos finished&nbsp;second in La Liga, behind champions&nbsp;Barcelona, who also defeated them in the&nbsp;Copa del Rey&nbsp;and&nbsp;Spanish Super Cup&nbsp;finals.



“For Mbappe, the Pichichi will be a consolation prize, after a first season without major titles with the Casa Blanca,”&nbsp;said&nbsp;Mundo Deportivo. Instead, he leaves 2024-25 with only&nbsp;the UEFA Super Cup and the Intercontinental Cup&nbsp;— trophies of lesser significance in the grand scheme.

La Liga top goalscorers table: Kylian Mbappe seals Pichichi glory in Real Madrid’s debut season – Robert Lewandowski of Barcelona falls short

La Liga top goalscorers table: Kylian Mbappe seals Pichichi glory in Real Madrid’s debut season – Robert Lewandowski of Barcelona falls short - World Soccer Talk

Lewandowski denied: Mbappe ends La Liga season as top scorer

destacadas

As La Liga nears its dramatic conclusion, the biggest question isn’t just who will lift the league trophy—it’s who will walk away with the coveted&nbsp;Pichichi Trophy, awarded to the season’s top goalscorer. The tension is high, the goals are precious, and the protagonists are two of the game’s elite:&nbsp;Robert Lewandowski and Kylian Mbappe. But this isn’t just about numbers. It’s about pride, legacy, and a rivalry that now stretches far beyond the pitch.



It’s been a season of narratives, from the&nbsp;arrival of Kylian Mbappe at Real Madrid&nbsp;to Barcelona’s resurgence under&nbsp;Hansi Flick. But now, a different El Clasico battle is taking center stage:&nbsp;the race for the Pichichi.



The French superstar turned La Liga on its head with a breathtaking performance in the last Clasico — scoring a hat-trick at Camp Nou, even as Real Madrid lost&nbsp;4-3. That personal triumph propelled Mbappe to the top of the scoring charts with&nbsp;27 league goals, overtaking Lewandowski, who stands at&nbsp;25.



More impressively,&nbsp;Mbappe now holds the all-time Real Madrid record for most goals in a debut season, surpassing the legendary&nbsp;Ivan Zamorano’s&nbsp;1992-93 mark. The 26-year-old has netted&nbsp;39 goals across all competitions, sending a strong message to his rivals.



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<div class="ck-youtube"><iframe loading="lazy" title="All 31 goals scored by Kylian Mbappé 24/25 so far | Real Madrid" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/G9b0AKP1mck?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>
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<h2>How Barcelona players plan to help Lewandowski take the lead again</h2>



On the other side of the rivalry,&nbsp;Robert Lewandowski&nbsp;finds himself at a crossroads. With&nbsp;25 goals in 31 appearances, the Polish striker has endured a worrying drought,&nbsp;last scoring in La Liga on March 30&nbsp;against Girona. A muscle injury, picked up in a clash with Celta Vigo, sidelined him for five crucial matches, stalling his momentum just as he approached his&nbsp;100th goal for Barcelona—a milestone he still hasn’t reached.



Despite his struggles, the&nbsp;Barcelona dressing room has rallied around him. According to&nbsp;El Nacional,&nbsp;the Blaugrana’s players have “vowed to feed him”&nbsp;in the remaining three matches of the season, hoping to tilt the Pichichi back in Lewandowski’s favor. The goal? Not just to crown their No. 9, but to&nbsp;deny Mbappe his first major individual accolade in Spain.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1200" height="675" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/full/WST_20250514_WST_569773_Raphinha-Robert-Lewandowski-Lamine-Yamal-FC-Barcelona-1200x675_b6846501.webp&amp;width=1200&amp;height=675" alt="Raphinha of FC Barcelona celebrates scoring his team&apos;s fourth goal with teammates Robert Lewandowski and Lamine Yamal during the LaLiga match between Real Madrid CF and FC Barcelona at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on October 26, 2024 in Madrid, Spain." class="wp-image-556198" srcset="https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/02/22142105/Raphinha-Robert-Lewandowski-Lamine-Yamal-FC-Barcelona-1200x675.jpg 1200w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/02/22142105/Raphinha-Robert-Lewandowski-Lamine-Yamal-FC-Barcelona-300x169.jpg 300w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/02/22142105/Raphinha-Robert-Lewandowski-Lamine-Yamal-FC-Barcelona-768x432.jpg 768w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/02/22142105/Raphinha-Robert-Lewandowski-Lamine-Yamal-FC-Barcelona-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/02/22142105/Raphinha-Robert-Lewandowski-Lamine-Yamal-FC-Barcelona-740x416.jpg 740w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/02/22142105/Raphinha-Robert-Lewandowski-Lamine-Yamal-FC-Barcelona-490x275.jpg 490w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/02/22142105/Raphinha-Robert-Lewandowski-Lamine-Yamal-FC-Barcelona-250x140.jpg 250w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/02/22142105/Raphinha-Robert-Lewandowski-Lamine-Yamal-FC-Barcelona.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px"></figure></figure>



<h2>Penalties and controversy</h2>



There is more at stake than goals, the report adds. The atmosphere between the two camps is thick with tension. Barcelona players and staff are growing increasingly frustrated by what they see as&nbsp;refereeing ‘favoritism’ toward Real Madrid.



Statistically, the numbers back their argument. Los Blancos have been awarded&nbsp;13 penalties&nbsp;this season, converting many through the Frenchman, while Barca has had only&nbsp;six. Of&nbsp;Mbappe’s 27 goals,&nbsp;seven have come from the spot&nbsp;— more than double Lewandowski’s&nbsp;three penalties.



It’s a detail that hasn’t gone unnoticed in Catalonia. The talk around the club is that&nbsp;the 26-year-old’s goal tally is being padded, and there’s a sense of injustice that fuels their determination. “Lewandowski’s Pichichi is everyone’s business,”&nbsp;a source close to the Barca squad reportedly said, highlighting the unified desire to give their striker the boost he needs.

Kylian Mbappe dethrones Robert Lewandowski as La Liga top scorer — Barcelona gears up with secret weapon to stop Pichichi glory

Kylian Mbappe dethrones Robert Lewandowski as La Liga top scorer — Barcelona gears up with secret weapon to stop Pichichi glory - World Soccer Talk

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Lewandowski denied: Mbappe ends La Liga season as top scorer

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Kylian Mbappe dethrones Robert Lewandowski as La Liga top scorer — Barcelona gears up with secret weapon to stop Pichichi glory