La Liga stands as one of the most prestigious football leagues in the world. As Spain’s premier league competition, it has cemented itself in the annals of football history with remarkable team and individual achievements.
With 92 seasons under its belt, La Liga has borne witness to extraordinary goal-scoring feats, nail-biting fixtures between arch-rivals, and some of the greatest players to ever grace the beautiful game.
This article delves into some of the most notable statistics and records set by players and clubs in La Liga over the decades.
La Liga Dominated by Real Madrid and Barcelona
Real Madrid and Barcelona have dominated La Liga, having won 60 of the 92 titles between them.
Real Madrid
leads the way with 35 La Liga trophies to its name – a longstanding record in the league. Los Blancos won five consecutive La Liga titles between 1960-65, including a run of 16 straight wins in the 1960/61 campaign.
Meanwhile, arch-rivals Barcelona
trail close behind with 26 league titles. However, the Catalan club holds the record for the longest unbeaten run in La Liga history, having gone 43 games without defeat in the 2017/18 season.
Messi and Ronaldo: Titans of the Modern Era
The 21st century has witnessed the rise of two behemoths in Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, who shattered numerous long-standing records in La Liga through their exploits for Barcelona and Real Madrid respectively.
Messi: Barcelona’s All-Time Top Scorer
Lionel Messi sits atop as Barcelona’s all-time top scorer with 474 goals, having also bagged the most assists (192) in La Liga history.
Some of his other astonishing records include:
● Most goals in a single La Liga season: 50 goals (2011–12)
● Most career La Liga hat-tricks: 36
● Most consecutive La Liga matches scored in: 21
● Youngest player to score 200 La Liga goals (25 years, 7 months)
The Argentine wizard notably scored Barcelona’s 6000th La Liga goal in February 2019.
Ronaldo: 62 Hattricks and Counting
Cristiano Ronaldo tormented defences during his nine-year stint with Los Blancos, plundering 311 goals in 292 appearances.
The Portuguese phenomenon holds the record for the most La Liga hat-tricks with an astonishing 62 trebles to his name. For perspective, the next best is Lionel Messi with 36 hat tricks.
Ronaldo also became the fastest player to score 200 goals in the league, achieving the feat in just 178 games.
La Liga Team Records
Alongside the glittering individual achievements, La Liga has also witnessed several team records over its illustrative history.
● Total games played: 24,895
● Total goals scored: 71,149
● Most Google searches (2024): FC Barcelona (10 million)
● Most fans worldwide:
Real Madrid (350 million)
Real Madrid also holds the title of the world’s most valuable football club, with a valuation of $5.1 billion as of 2024.
Meanwhile, Barcelona striker Lionel Messi etched his name in the club’s history books by scoring their 6000th La Liga goal in February 2019.
Longest Serving La Liga Players
Former Barcelona and Athletic Bilbao goalkeeper Andoni Zubizarreta holds the record for most La Liga appearances with 622 games under his belt before retiring in 1998.
Among active players, Joaquín Sánchez leads the pack with 570 appearances thus far. The Real Betis icon recently announced he will hang up his boots at the end of the 2022/23 season.
Quick-Fire Goals and Remarkable Goalkeeping Exploits
La Liga has witnessed its fair share of eclectic records over the years.
● Fastest goal: Joseba Llorente scored for Valladolid in just 7.82 seconds against Espanyol in January 2008.
● Longest run without conceding: Abel Resino went an astonishing 1275 minutes without letting the net ripple playing for Atlético Madrid in the 1990/91 season.
Top Scorers and Assist Providers of 2022/23 Season
With the ongoing 2022/23 campaign underway, Robert Lewandowski and Antoine Griezmann have lit up La Liga through their goal contributions.
Lewandowski
currently leads the scoring charts with 23 goals, followed closely behind by Ballon d’Or holder Karim Benzema with 19 goals.
Meanwhile, Griezmann tops the assists chart with 14, demonstrating his excellent playmaking abilities.
The Legacy of La Liga
With its illustrious history studded with record-breaking achievements, nail-biting fixtures, and all-time greats, La Liga has etched its name among the pantheon of elite football leagues.
Its global popularity and commercial success solidify its status as the most widely watched league competition on the planet.
As the years pass by, more history shall be created on the pristine pitches of La Liga by future generations of footballing talent.
FAQs
Who is the best player in La Liga history?
Lionel Messi is widely regarded as the greatest player in the league’s history, having shattered numerous long-standing records during his 17-year stint with Barcelona.
How many clubs participate in La Liga?
The 2022/23 La Liga season features 20 clubs. This includes 16 Spanish teams and 4 clubs from Andorra that qualify through the country’s domestic league.
What is La Liga?
La Liga (The League) is the men’s top professional football division of the Spanish football league system. It is considered one of the top club competitions globally.
Which club has won the most La Liga titles?
Real Madrid dominates with 35 Spanish league titles, holding the long-standing record for most La Liga trophies. Arch-rivals Barcelona trail closely with 26 titles.
