Adam Smith
Data and Analysis @datasmith101
Last Updated: 22/05/18 11:39am
Which players top the stats across Europe’s top five leagues? We list them all…
Lionel Messi picked up his fifth European Golden Shoe with 34 goals, ahead of Premier League duo Mohamed Salah and Harry Kane – but which other players topped the stat charts across Europe?
Including blocks, the Argentine also attempted more shots than any other player with 197, followed by Kane (184), Cristiano Ronaldo (178) and Lorenzo Insigne (177)
Messi also topped the charts with 96 shots on target. Including blocked attempts, that’s a 48 per cent shot accuracy.
That ratio falls short of Manchester City’s Gabriel Jesus, who achieved 58.9 per cent accuracy – hitting 33 on target from 56 attempts.
However, Napoli and Italy striker Insigne has miscued 75 attempts, ahead of Edin Dzeko (70), Ronaldo (63) and Kane (60).
Former Middlesbrough striker Cristhian Stuani had an explosive start to the campaign with Girona and ended the season topping Europe with 10 headed goals, while Alvaro Morata (seven) and Kane (six) also featured among the top six.
From range, Barcelona duo Messi and Philippe Coutinho are in a league of their own – each netting eight from outside the box – with the latter hitting four for Liverpool before his January move.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang hit the ground running at Arsenal but ended up missing 25 big chances for Borussia Dortmund and the Gunners this term, while Salah (23) and Christian Benteke (20) were also among the top culprits.
Barcelona striker Luis Suarez finished runner-up in the Sky Sports La Liga Power Rankings, but offsides are not penalised in the methodology – the Uruguay international was flagged a chart-topping 56 times in La Liga this season.
Kevin De Bruyne topped the Premier League Power Rankings until February this year before eventual winner Salah surpassed him, ending the season with a Europe-wide record of 16 assists, ahead of team-mate Leroy Sane on 15.
Former West Ham playmaker Dimiri Payet has been making an impact at Marseille with 121 chances created – but his World Cup dream with France was shattered after suffering an injury during the 3-0 defeat to Atletico Madrid in the Europa League final.
Manchester City are reportedly interested in signing Napoli midfielder Jorginho and it’s no surprise: the Italy international is of Pep Guardiola’s ilk, with a chart-topping 3,200 passes in Serie A this term.
In terms of tackles, Metz midfielder Renaud Cohade (144) edged Leicester’s Wilfried Ndidi (138) – but his efforts failed to change the club’s fortunes, finishing the season bottom of Ligue 1.
For duels won, Rennes midfielder Benjamin Andre recorded a chart-topping 363 to help his side end the season fifth in Ligue 1, followed by Watford’s Richarlison (325) and Ndidi (313).
Premier League giants Peter Crouch (242) and Christian Benteke (242) top Europe’s charts for aerials won – despite limited game time – while Brighton’s Shane Duffy (198) and West Brom’s Salomon Rondon (165) also make the list.
Unsurprisingly, the busiest ‘keepers were among those at struggling clubs. Hella Verona stopper Nicolas Andrade made a chart-topping 165 saves, followed by Stoke’s Jack Butland (144) – while Swansea’s Lukasz Fabianski (137) ranks fourth.
Finally, Jan Oblak was kept more clean sheets than any other stopper across the five leagues with 22 shutouts, followed by Marc-Andre ter Stegen (19). David de Gea (18), Ederson (16), Hugo Lloris and Thibaut Courtois (both 15) also made the top 10.
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