March 5 – Still delivering at 38, Lionel Messi continues to set the pace for attacking output across world football, according to new figures released by the CIES Football Observatory.
The data tracks goals and assists recorded over the past 12 months across 67 leagues worldwide. On raw numbers alone, Messi sits comfortably clear at the top with 59 combined goal contributions – 37 goals and 22 assists – a full 17 more than the next closest player.
That said, the Argentine has produced much more than just raw numbers across his decorated career and it’s a really exciting prospect to see him back against the world’s best this summer.
Even when the contributions are weighted for the competitive level of the matches in which they were recorded, the Argentine still leads the field. Messi’s adjusted score comes in at 66.3, narrowly ahead of Kylian Mbappé on 65.4.
Two FC Bayern Munich players follow close behind. Harry Kane ranks third with 42 goal involvements and a weighted score of 64.5, while teammate Michael Olise is fourth with 37 contributions, including a list-high 22 assists – most of which for Kane.
At the opposite end of the age spectrum, Lamine Yamal continues to underline his status as one of the game’s emerging stars. The FC Barcelona winger has produced 29 goal contributions in La Liga this season alone – 18 goals and 11 assists – and, at just 18, is the youngest player in the top 100 of the global rankings.
Only one other player in the list is under 23: Midtjylland’s Franculino Djú.
Alongside Messi, veterans such as long time rival Cristiano Ronaldo – now 41 and still producing 31 goal contributions – and Fernando Zampedri (38) feature among the most productive players over the analysed period.
In total, players from 45 different leagues appear in the rankings, which CIES points to the increasingly global spread of attacking production across the professional game.
Contact the writer of this story, Harry Ewing, at [email protected]