Ranking the 5 greatest finishers in La Liga history
La Liga is undoubtedly one of the best leagues in the world. Home to some of the world's best football clubs, the Spanish league is considered by many to be the most advanced league in terms of technique.
Featuring the likes of Barcelona, Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid, Spanish teams are known to put up strong challenges in the UEFA Champions League year after year.
A decade of Spanish dominance.
For the past 10 years...
#LaLiga sides have been unstoppable in Europe.
🇪🇸
buff.ly/2jwpcOF https://t.co/AITRz8gGCt
Players like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have graced the league with their attacking prowess over the years, uplifting the reputation of their clubs to levels unprecedented.
Let's take a look at the five greatest finishers from La Liga.
#5. Hugo Sanchez
Hugo Sanchez is a bonafide legend of Mexican football.
Sanchez was a forward by trade and has represented both Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid during his playing days. Sanchez spent 13 years in Spain and has amassed several goals during his career.
Known for his speed and agility, Sanchez displayed immaculate finishing ability. He is famed for his advanced reading of the game and his ability to create goals out of seemingly impossible situations.
Just for shits and giggles, enjoy 3 minutes and 46 seconds of Hugo Sánchez, the greatest Mexican footballer ever.
His 164 goals in 207 league games for Real Madrid are still good enough to s place him as La Liga’s fourth-highest scorer ever.
https://t.co/jV3ucuQiOp
Sanchez spent four years with Atletico Madrid before joining Real Madrid in 1985. He spent seven years with Los Blancos, winning a host of silverware. He has a mammoth 234 league goals to his name.
goals in La Liga. Each of the 38 goals was scored with only a single touch!
Fun Fact: Real Madrid legend Hugo Sánchez is often regarded as the ultimate "goal poacher".
In the 1989–90 season, he scored 3️⃣8️⃣ goals in La Liga. Each of the 38 goals was scored with only a single touch! https://t.co/NMhGp1ZL1t
Sanchez is widely considered to be the greatest-ever player from Mexico.
#4. Raul Gonzalez
Raul Gonzalez is undoubtedly one of Real Madrid's most prominent legends.
The Spaniard came up through Madrid's academy and went on to make his professional debut for the club in 1994. He spent 16 long and successful years with Los Blancos and was a key figure in the club's first 'Galacticos' era.
x6 LaLiga 🏆🇪🇸
x4 Supercopa 🏆🇪🇸
x1 DFB-Pokal 🏆🇩🇪
x1 DFL-Supercup 🏆🇩🇪
x3 Champions League 🏆🇪🇺
x1 UEFA Super Cup 🏆🇪🇺
x2 Intercontinental Cup 🏆🌍
x2 Pichichi 🥇🇪🇸
Record number of appearances for Real Madrid 🥇⚪️
Happy Birthday to @RaulGonzalez 👑
#Raul #RealMadrid #RMCF https://t.co/PdBAgslgnn
An extremely consistent player, Raul was known for his creativity and his intricate ball control. Capable of lining up anywhere in attack, Raul could set up goals just as easily as he could score them.
Not many players embodied Real Madrid like Raul did. Raul Madrid.
He won six La Liga titles and three UEFA Champions League titles during his time at Madrid. He went on to score 228 league goals during his time with Madrid, before signing for German outfit Schalke in 2010.
Then competition top scorer & three-time winner Raúl González joined Schalke #OTD in 2010. The legendary striker scored 66 goals in 130 Champions League games for Real Madrid before making the move to Germany.
🔵 Then competition top scorer & three-time winner Raúl González joined Schalke #OTD in 2010. The legendary striker scored 66 goals in 130 Champions League games for Real Madrid before making the move to Germany.
#UCL https://t.co/zeDefAxH4B
Raul is also the record holder for winning La Liga's Best Spanish Player award six times. It goes without saying that his legacy is one that will not be forgotten in a hurry.
#3. Alfredo di Stefano
Alfredo di Stefano is widely regarded as one of the best footballers of all time.
Di Stefano was a key figure in Real Madrid's domination during the 1950s. He spent 11 years with Madrid, winning a multitude of trophies. His most memorable achievement was winning the European Cup an unbelievable five times. He has also won La Liga eight times.
Seven years ago the football world lost an all-time great with the passing of Alfredo Di Stefano 🇦🇷🇪🇸
The "Saeta rubia" ("Blond Arrow) was a key figure in Real Madrid's legendary side of the 1950s and 60s 🏹
#OnThisDay | @realmadriden https://t.co/tfnWJH9aX3
Di Stefano has represented Spain, Argentina and Colombia on the international stage, but is most well-known for his achievements with Spain. He has scored 23 goals in just 31 appearances for Spain.
Di Stefano scored 227 goals in La Liga in 329 appearances. Considered by many to be the most complete footballer of all time, Di Stefano has etched his name in history forever.
#2. Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo is a household name in the football world.
Ronaldo has one of the best records in La Liga history, despite spending only nine years in Spain. He signed from Manchester United in 2009 for a reported £80 million, becoming the world's most expensive player at the time.
438 games
On this day in 2009, Manchester Utd accepted a world-record £80M/$113M from Real Madrid for Cristiano Ronaldo.
▪️ 438 games
▪️ 450 goals
▪️ 4 Champions Leagues
▪️ 4 Ballons d’Or
Legendary era. ⚪ https://t.co/EYzocpszOv
Ronaldo is considered to be the greatest goalscorer of all time. Capable of scoring with either foot, Ronaldo is also extremely lethal in the air. Known for his speed, power and finishing ability, Ronaldo has enjoyed great success throughout his career.
#OTD in 2009, Real Madrid unveiled new signing Cristiano Ronaldo at the Bernabéu. The rest is history. 
📅 #OTD in 2009, Real Madrid unveiled new signing Cristiano Ronaldo at the Bernabéu. The rest is history. 🏆🏆🏆🏆
⚪️ Club record (9 seasons):
⚽️4⃣5⃣0⃣
👕4⃣3⃣8⃣
🤯 Champions League record:
⚽️1⃣0⃣5⃣
👕1⃣0⃣1⃣
@realmadriden | #UCL https://t.co/ElpX2vYITz
During his nine years in Spain, Ronaldo amassed a club-record 450 goals for Real Madrid. He has scored 311 goals in just 292 La Liga appearances and is the only player in the top 30 all-time scorers to average over a goal in every game.
It's been two years since Cristiano Ronaldo played his final game for Real Madrid. His record there was ridiculous 😳 https://t.co/XvBS1N2Gl8
Ronaldo has won two La Liga titles and a stunning four UEFA Champions League titles with Madrid. He went on to sign for Juventus in 2018, where he furthered his legacy as one of the best to ever play the game.
#1. Lionel Messi
Lionel Messi is arguably the best player in football history.
Messi initially came up through La Masia and made his professional debut for Barcelona in 2004. He spent 17 years in Spain, winning every possible trophy and breaking several individual records along the way.
Lionel Messi arrived at Barcelona 21 years ago today to begin his legendary career 🛬 https://t.co/kpGUeZy5Kt
Messi's achievements with Barcelona are simply unparalleled. He has won 10 La Liga titles and seven Copa del Rey titles with the Blaugrana. He also enjoyed great success in Europe, winning the UEFA Champions League four times.
Blessed with raw talent, Messi is widely considered to be the greatest dribbler in the history of the game. Armed with a lethal left foot, Messi is capable of scoring goals as well as setting them up for his teammates.
Lionel Messi's Barcelona career began for real 18 years ago today when he made his debut.
He turned out to be a decent player for them... https://t.co/7hOrrcvIOl
Messi has made 778 appearances for Barcelona, scoring a mammoth 672 goals while also providing 303 assists. He is the club's record goalscorer and is also La Liga's record holder for most goals scored, with 474 to his name.
Lionel Messi's career honours with Barcelona:
🏆 10x LaLiga
🏆 7x Supercopa de España
🏆 7x Copa del Rey
🏆 6x Ballon d'Or
🏆 6x European Golden Shoe
🏆 4x Champions League
🏆 3x UEFA Super Cup
🏆 3x Club World Cup
A club-record 34 trophies won with the team. https://t.co/0rtIvdxIBN
Messi also won a record seven Ballon d'Or awards with Barcelona, cementing his place as one of, if not the, best footballer in history.