Soccer
Messi and Neymar miles ahead of Mbappé
The Argentine and the Brazilian form a duo that provide the most assists in European football, a generosity that contrasts with the figures of the French striker.
Neymar spent the summer surrounded by rumours of his possible departure from Paris Saint-Germain, but once the ball was back in action he proved the doubters wrong about his commitment to the club through the medium of goals and assists. And as the Brazilian goes, so too does Leo Messi in this opening act of the season. Together they make up the most generous duo in European football, the pair of players that provides the passes for goal. And the great beneficiary of this altruism is Kylian Mbappé. And it’s the Frenchman who comes out looking bad when compared in this light to his teammates. Messi and Neymar have provided seven assists each so far this season. Mbappé, none.
Mbappé no longer top of the goal-scoring charts
The Frenchman is now not PSG’s top scorer either, a position that - after the victory against Brest (1-0), with a goal from Neymar from Messi’s pass - is held by the Brazilian, with ten goals: eight in Ligue 1 and two in the French Super Cup. Mbappé has nine, seven in the league and two in the Champions League. Messi pops up with four, three in Ligue 1 and one in the Super Cup.
Mbappé relying on Messi and Neymar
Seven of the goals scored by Mbappé have come from four assists from Messi and three from Neymar. The other three goal passes from the Argentine were sent the way of the Brazilian, who in return has only given one goal pass to Messi. The Argentine has only provided assists for Mbappé and Neymar, while the Brazilian also set up a goal to his compatriot Marquinhos and two to Achraf Hakimi.
This lack of assists from Mbappé at the start of the season contrasts with the overwhelming stats he produced last season in this department. The French striker ended the previous season as PSG’s top provider, with 26 goal assists in the 46 games he played. Very far behind him, Messi finished second, with 15 assists, and Neymar finished fourth with eight, almost the same as he has already this season. Between Leo and the Brazilian was another Argentine, Ángel Di María, with nine.
