Mario Alberto Kempes Chiodi is an Argentine former professional footballer who played as a striker or attacking midfielder. A prolific goalscorer, he finished as La Liga's top goalscorer twice with Valencia where he amassed 116 goals in 184 league games. Regarded as one of the greatest players of all time.
Kempes with Valencia, c. 1982–84
Mario Kempes during his period in River Plate, 1981
Kempes celebrating one of his 2 goals at the 1978 FIFA World Cup final match v. Netherlands in Buenos Aires
In Spanish football, the Trofeo Pichichi is awarded by the sports newspaper Marca to the top goalscorer of each La Liga season. Named after the Athletic Bilbao striker Rafael "Pichichi" Moreno, the trophy has been awarded annually since the 1952–53 season. All top scorers who preceded the award's creation were retroactively named Pichichi winners by Marca. Since the 2014–15 season, the top scorer of the Liga Iberdrola is also awarded the Pichichi Trophy.
Lionel Messi has won the award a record eight times, the most of any La Liga player in history
Telmo Zarra won the inaugural Pichichi Trophy in 1953 and amassed a total of six. He remains the Spanish player who has won the award the most times.
Quini won Pichichi Trophies with two different clubs.
Barcelona's Polish striker Robert Lewandowski is the current winner, having secured his first Pichichi Trophy in the 2022–23 campaign.
