It was the 2015-16 season. Barca’s MSN trident was in full bloom. The spearhead of this trio, Luis Suarez, delivered one of the most thrilling individual performances in the Spanish league’s history. The Blaugrana legend battled Cristiano Ronaldo for the historic Golden Boot award. This is the story of Suarez’s historic golden boot clinch. It cemented the Uruguayan’s legacy as one of football’s finest no. 9s.
Luis Suarez Shines in La Liga
After a perfect start to his Barca career in 14/15, Luis Suarez did not look to rest. He led the Barca attack with Leo Messi and Neymar and displayed a lethal combination of clinical and finesse. El Pistolero scored a staggering 40 goals in 35 league games (15/16). He not only clinched the Pichichi but also helped Barca secure La Liga. It was a truly exhilarating title race, as Barca won the league by a single point.
Suarez wasn’t your typical striker who scored goals only. He was also an incredible assister. The player provided 16 assists and displayed his playmaking attributes. The MSN’s chemistry was impeccable, and Suarez’s all-around brilliance was the cherry on top.
A Stunning Comeback: A Big Push for Glory
For the better part of the season, Cristiano Ronaldo led the race for the Golden Boot. Suarez trailed the number 7 by a significant margin. However, the Uruguayan made one of the most stunning comebacks in league football history during the final stretch of the season.
El Pistolero went on a scoring rampage and netted 10 goals in four matches. He surpassed the Los Blancos legend and finished five goals ahead of him. Here are some highlights of his last few games:
- Suarez struck four goals against Deportivo in an 8-0 win. He signaled a strong message through this victory.
- A few days later, he repeated the performance with another four-goal display. He became the first player in La Liga history to do such a feat.
- He finished his brilliant run with braces against Betis and Espanyol. The whole world was stunned.
This dramatic turnaround won him individual honors and ensured Barca’s fierce league triumph. It really was a spectacle.
The Legacy of El-Pistolero
Suarez became the first player since 2009 to win Pichichi other than Messi and Ronaldo. This was his second golden boot, in the era of Messi and Ronaldo’s peak. This was a feat in itself as OG’s know how difficult it was to complete with Leo and Cris in that era.
Luis Suarez set a gold standard by winning this 2016 golden boot and will always be remembered for this prize. He himself said:
“I’m above individual awards. I won 2 Golden Boots in Leo and Cristiano’s era and I’m proud of it because I won it with numbers, not votes.”
Suarez finished off a Barca legend and left in 2020. Apart from his jaw-dropping numbers, he will forever be remembered as a player who loved and embraced the Blaugrana colors.