Top 5 contenders for the La Liga Golden Boot

---

#3 Gerard Moreno (Villarreal)

Valencia CF v Villarreal CF - La Liga Santander

One of the most underrated players in La Liga, Gerard Moreno is quietly enjoying another fruitful season in the Spanish top-flight.

Moreno spent some time at Villarreal before moving to Espanyol in 2015. Here, the Spain international made his name as a consistent goalscorer in La Liga, returning to El Submarino Amarillo in 2018 for a fee of £18 million.

The 29-year old has been in fine form this season. Capable of playing in various forward positions, Moreno has made 31 league appearances, scoring 22 goals. The attacker has been linked with a move to Barcelona in recent days, with the club said to be tracking Moreno.

---

#2 Karim Benzema (Real Madrid)

Real Madrid v Liverpool FC - UEFA Champions League Quarter Final: Leg One

Karim Benzema is Real Madrid's most important attacker, and it is hard to imagine where Los Blancos would be without his inputs.

He played a subdued role at Real Madrid during Cristiano Ronaldo's spell at the club, whose departure in 2018 increased responsibility on the former France international's shoulders. Benzema, though, has responded in emphatic fashion with his performances.

😯 Karim Benzema has now reached 30 goal involvements (22 goal, 8 assists) in a single La Liga campaign for only the second time in his career pic.twitter.com/VLFrqaFXWe

— WhoScored.com (@WhoScored) May 14, 2021

The 33-year old's fitness levels are commendable. Benzema rarely misses a game and has made 32 appearances in La Liga this season, scoring 22 goals. One of Real Madrid's greatest strikers ever, it will be interesting to see how the club replace him in the long run.

---

#1 Lionel Messi (Barcelona)

FC Barcelona v Atletico de Madrid - La Liga Santander

Arguably the greatest player to have graced the sport of football, Lionel Messi needs little introduction.

The 33-year-old continues to astound fans and critics with his incredible consistency, and this season has been no different. A world-class dribbler, creator and goalscorer, the Argentina international has been in sensational form once again, so much so that his brilliance has now become the norm.

Lionel Messi extends his La Liga lead with 29 goals this season 🔥Legend 🐐 pic.twitter.com/dV8KoGocfe

— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) May 11, 2021

He has made 34 La Liga appearances, scoring 29 goals and providing nine assists. With his Barcelona contract expiring in the summer, Messi has been linked with moves to Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain, and Barca have to do everything in their power to hold on to him.

---