It’s still mind-boggling Lionel Messi came fifth in the vote for the world’s best player last year.
Despite netting more goals than anyone else on the planet, the Barcelona star was behind Kylian Mbappe, Antoine Griezmann, Cristiano Ronaldo and eventual winner Luka Modric in the Ballon d’Or final.
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Messi has 42 goals in all competitions this season
This season Messi has again been spectacular, and although he is unlikely to beat his own record haul of 73 goals set in the 2011/12 season, he is close to displaying his best ever form in the famous Blaugrana jersey.
The little Argentine has scored the most goals (42), most assists (21), most free-kick goals (6) and the most hat-tricks (4) in Europe this season, despite missing a month through injury.
He has also scored the most goals in the history of the top five leagues with 415.
Messi's season in numbers
La Liga – 32 goals in 28 appearances
Champions League – 8 goals in 6 appearances
Copa del Rey – 2 goals in 4 appearances
In Europe:
Most goals (42)
Most assists (21)
Most free-kick goals (6)
Most hat-tricks (4)
There was once a theory, however, that Messi only produced these remarkable stats due to the talent of Xavi Hernandez and Andres Iniesta behind him.
But he has shown that isn’t the case, and, if anything, the forward has excelled more since the departure of the two iconic midfielders from Camp Nou.
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Many wondered if Messi would struggle to score as much without Xvi and Iniesta
After Xavi’s transfer to Al-Sadd SC, Messi has scored 195 goals in 194 matches.
Meanwhile, in Iniesta’s absence, following a transfer to Japanese outfit Vissel Kobe, he’s managed 42 goals in 39 matches.
Furthermore, Messi’s assist rate is virtually the same since Xavi and Iniesta left.
When playing with both Xavi and Iniesta, he recorded 115 assists in 309 LaLiga appearances – averaging an assist in 0.37 per cent of league matches.
In the four seasons following Xavi’s departure, and in a different role, he has 41 assists in 131 LaLiga matches – averaging an assist in 31 per cent of league matches.
Messi has undoubtedly proven that myth wrong and it’s only a matter of time before the golden ball is back in the hands of the Barcelona star.
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