Mbappé holds two-goal Pichichi lead

Kylian Mbappé goes into LaLiga’s final round with the scoring title in his hands, but not yet secured. Fox Deportes, in an EFE report published on May 18, said the Real Madrid forward leads the Pichichi race with 24 league goals, two ahead of Mallorca’s Vedat Muriqi on 22. Mundo Deportivo reported the same day that a tie between the two would open a debate over how the award is settled. Real Madrid and Mallorca both play again on Sunday, May 24, in Matchday 38. ### How big is Mbappé’s lead with one game left? Fox Deportes said Mbappé’s advantage stands at two goals with one round to play, after neither he nor Muriqi added to their totals in Matchday 37. The outlet described the race as one that only “a miracle” would now take away from the France forward. (foxdeportes.com) LaLiga’s official results page shows Real Madrid beat Sevilla 1-0 on May 17, while Mallorca lost 2-0 at Levante the same day. Those results left the top-scorer race unchanged heading into the last weekend. ### Why is Vedat Muriqi still in the conversation? Vedat Muriqi remains alive because a two-goal gap can still be erased in one match. (foxdeportes.com) Mundo Deportivo wrote on May 18 that if Mbappé did not play, or played only limited minutes, Muriqi’s chances of taking the Pichichi outright or sharing it would increase. (laliga.com) Muriqi’s season has kept him within reach for weeks. Mundo Deportivo reported in April that the Mallorca striker had cut into Mbappé’s lead after scoring against Real Madrid earlier in the campaign, and Fox Deportes said on May 18 that he entered the final stretch as Mbappé’s closest challenger. (mundodeportivo.com) ### What happens if they finish level on goals? Mundo Deportivo said a tie would trigger discussion over the Trofeo Pichichi rather than settle the matter automatically in public perception. The paper framed the issue around whether Mbappé and Muriqi would be considered joint winners if they end the season on the same total. (mundodeportivo.com) The reporting available here does not show a fresh official LaLiga ruling on tie-break procedure because the Pichichi is traditionally treated as a media award rather than a league championship standing. What is clear from Mundo Deportivo’s May 18 report is that the possibility of a shared finish has become part of the conversation before the last round. (mundodeportivo.com) ### Which final-day matches matter for the race? AS’s Matchday 38 schedule lists Real Sociedad v Real Madrid and Levante v Mallorca for Sunday, May 24, with both games set for 15:00 ET. That means Mbappé and Muriqi will play their final league matches at the same time. (mundodeportivo.com) Mallorca’s game also carries team stakes beyond the scoring race. The broader end-of-season picture on LaLiga’s official site shows Mallorca still in relegation danger entering the last round, adding another layer to any attempt by Muriqi to chase down Mbappé. ### What does Mbappé need to do now? Mbappé can guarantee the Pichichi by preserving his two-goal edge on May 24. (en.as.com) A Real Madrid goal from him would raise the target for Muriqi, while a scoreless game would leave Mallorca’s striker needing at least two to draw level and three to finish ahead, based on the totals reported by Fox Deportes and Mundo Deportivo. (laliga.com) Sunday, May 24, is the next hard date in the race. AS lists Real Sociedad against Real Madrid and Levante against Mallorca as the closing fixtures that will decide whether Mbappé finishes on top alone or whether Muriqi forces the tie scenario raised by Mundo Deportivo. (en.as.com) (foxdeportes.com)