Most attacking players either create goals or score goals – but stars from Barcelona, Manchester City and PSG are among those to do both at the start of the 2022-23 season.
Using data from transfermarkt, we’ve compiled a list of the top 10 players from Ligue 1, the Bundesliga, Premier League, La Liga and Serie A in terms of their combined goals and assists contributions.
As a point to note, Marcus Thuram and Harry Kane just miss out on the list despite each having 13 goal contributions, due to their slightly inferior minutes per-contribution ratio.
We doubt you’ll be too surprised at the identity of number one…
=10. Kevin de Bruyne (13)
We’re getting to a point where we have to consider De Bruyne as the best midfielder the Premier League has ever seen.
The Belgian pulls off something ridiculous every week and appears to have struck up an instant understanding with Man City’s new star striker Erling Haaland. De Bruyne has assisted four of the striker’s league goals (10 in total – the joint-most in Europe’s big leagues with Messi) and has scored a further three goals for good measure.
KDB!
It's coming in hot. Man City now 1-0 up#PremierLeague pic.twitter.com/L9cUfYxL33
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) October 29, 2022
=10. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (13)
Napoli have stormed Serie A so far and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia has received plenty of plaudits along the way.
The Georgian winger has made light work of adapting to a new league after moving over from Rubin Kazan in the summer. We absolutely love him.
=7. Christopher Nkunku (14)
Christopher Nkunku was one of the most prolific forwards in the Bundesliga last season and this year has been no different.
The French forward currently leads the way for goals scored in Germany with 12 goals as well as chipping in with two assists.
=7. Kylian Mbappe (14)
One of the more predictable names on this list, Mbappe has 11 goals and two assists in 13 Ligue 1 appearances. All that despite reportedly being displeased by the position he’s being played in this season.
That all sounds about right.
6. Randal Kolo Muani (15)
Randal Kolo Muani has been a lot of fun to watch for Eintracht Frankfurt this season.
The French star made his move over to Germany in the summer, following two successful seasons with Nantes in Ligue 1.
He already has five goals and 10 assists to his name in just 14 Bundesliga appearances this season, that’s some going.
5. Jamal Musiala (16)
The 19-year-old, who spent most of his upbringing in South London, has seen the void left by Robert Lewandowski at Bayern Munich and decided to step up and become the Bundesliga’s new MVP.
Nine goals and seven assists in 14 appearances so far. A key reason that inevitably Bayern will march their way to yet another league title, and a player we can’t wait to watch at the World Cup.
=3. Lionel Messi (17)
The obituaries were premature; Messi’s first season at PSG was low-key disappointing with just six goals and 14 assists.
But, with a World Cup to fine-tune himself for, we’ve seen a vintage Messi this season as the Argentine has already chalked up seven goals and 10 assists for the Ligue 1 champions.
Messi is on fire at the moment.
Another week, another Messi worldie!
He's something else right now pic.twitter.com/TX4K2owLnJ
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) October 29, 2022
=3. Robert Lewandowski (17)
Despite swapping Bavaria for Barcelona, there’s been absolutely no drop in Lewandowski’s goal and assist output.
He’s fired 13 goals past bewildered La Liga goalkeepers while chipping in four assists as the Camp Nou has quickly fallen in love with the Poland international.
2. Neymar (20)
Neymar looked set for the exit door at PSG six months ago with owner team-mate Kylian Mbappe reportedly unhappy about playing alongside the 30-year-old for much longer.
But the fulcrum of Brazil’s attack has responded in the best possible manner; stopping the extra-curricular nonsense, rolling up his socks and chipping in with a remarkable 11 goals and nine assists in 14 appearances for Christophe Galtier’s side.
READ: Neymar’s latest ridiculousness sent an opponent into the Bay of Biscay
1. Erling Haaland (21)
It’s only November and journalists are already running out of words for Haaland’s jaw-dropping start to life in the Premier League.
Forget the sheer number of goals for a second; it’s the variety of his 18 strikes that have left English defenders quivering with fear and Haaland has helpfully contributed three assists too.
He’s currently on course to score over 60 goals this season. God help us all.
Erling Haaland • The story so far at Manchester City • 23 goal contributions pic.twitter.com/NvJ1PFHZWi
— (@Priceless_Silva) October 10, 2022