50 - Lionel Messi
He was phenomenal last season and broke several records. The Argentine hit an out-of-this-world number of strikes. With half a century of goals in La Liga, La Pulga stole the Pichichi award away from 2011 winner Cristiano Ronaldo in absolute fashion.
46 - Cristiano Ronaldo
The Portuguese icon was pushed to the limit. Even 46 goals could not help him defend his prize. In the highlight of his outstanding goal run, CR7 scored El Clasico’s match winner at the Camp Nou as Real Madrid took a giant step towards their 32nd Spanish Primera Division title. Was that goal alone more precious than the Pichichi award?
24 - Radamel Falcao
Had it not been for the existence of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, Radamel Falcao would be the ultimate definition of a perfect striker. The Colombian star made an adventurous move from FC Porto to Atletico Madrid. Adapting quickly to Spanish football, Falcao beat Gonzalo Higuain to the third spot in the Pichichi chart.
The warning
Everyone predicts the 2012/13 Pichichi race will be a Lionel Messi vs Cristiano Ronaldo affair, but could we be wrong? Atletico Madrid’s Radamel Falcao has other ideas. 
“Their number of goals is not impossible for me,” Falcao claimed as he commented on the 96 La Liga goals scored between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo last season.
“What I want is to celebrate a good season with the fans. And with my goals and those of the rest of the team I know they will be happy. 'Pichichi'? Why not? With faith everything is possible.”
These are words coming from a player who could clinch a UEFA Super Cup medal with Atletico Madrid come August 31. Radamel Falcao perhaps possesses a great amount of motivation to give Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo a fight. However, is motivation alone enough to combat world football’s two deadliest attacking players?
Toning down
Three-time World Player of the Year Lionel Messi accused the media of making up a “constant duel” between him and Cristiano Ronaldo. Speaking to Ole this week, the Barcelona number 10 downplayed the rivalry by stating:
.jpg)
“There's never been any kind of anger toward Cristiano. It's all made up by the press who want to believe there's a constant duel between the two of us. But I don't compete with Cristiano, nor does he with me.”
Everything Lionel Messi does mesmerizes the public but everything he says apparently does not enter people’s ears. The war between pro-Messi and pro-Ronaldo fans continues and it will be so for a long, long time. So prepare for a bloody Pichichi fight throughout the 2012/13 La Liga campaign.
It all begins this Sunday. Cristiano Ronaldo stands a good chance of robbing the headlines as Real Madrid host Valencia in the match of the weekend. Later on, Lionel Messi will feature for Barcelona against Real Sociedad whereas Radamel Falcao will hope to save the best for last when Atletico Madrid takes on Levante in a 17:00 EST kick-off.
Let the Pichichi fight begin!
