Stats Analysis: WhoScored's Top Rated Forwards

The final instalment in WhoScored’s series of articles highlighting the top five players per position in Europe’s elite leagues sees us turn our attentions to the forwards. There are four different countries represented here; France is the only one to miss out, with England’s top-flight supplying a couple of names on the list. However, there is no surprise to see the number one plays in Spain…

1. Lionel Messi, Barcelona. WhoScored Rating 8.75

The top rated forward in the WhoScored rankings and the overall number one player, Lionel Messi has averaged an incredible 8.75 over his 27 appearances. The Barca forward has managed 5.4 shots per game – unsurprisingly top for his side and second only to Cristiano Ronaldo (6.6) in Europe’s top five leagues – and has netted 34 of the champions’ 89 goals to date.

Of Barcelona’s regular starters, Messi is sixth for possession with an average of 65.6 passes but in terms of creating goalscoring opportunities, he has produced more than any teammate; his 2.5 key passes per game just edges Xavi’s 2.4. The little Argentine’s eye for a through ball has seen him make 1.6 per game; number one in Europe, just eclipsing Francesco Totti’s 1.5. Messi’s creativity has helped him to 10 assists so far – joint-top with Dani Alves – and, allied with those 34 goals, means he has played a hand in a total of 44, or 49% of all his side’s goals.

His ability to beat an opponent is highlighted by an eye-catching 4.9 successful dribbles per game; more than double second placed Andres Iniesta for Pep Guardiola’s side. Indeed, Messi is second overall in Europe here, with only Hamburg’s Gokhan Tore (6.0) producing more.

Messi’s outstanding consistency and ability to seemingly win games single-handedly has earned him a total of 16 WhoScored man of the match awards. Not only is this – once again – top in Europe’s top five leagues, it is also double the rest of the Barca squad put together, such has been his level of performance.

2. Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Milan, WhoScored Rating 8.23

Leading scorer in Serie A with 10 games of the season remaining, Zlatan Ibrahimovic has netted 20 times in just 22 appearances to date. With penalty duties also in the bag, the Swede averages 4.1 shots per game;  way ahead of any Milan player, with Kevin Prince Boating second on 2.6, and seventh overall in Europe’s top five leagues.

Ibrahimovic manages 46.2 passes per game, with nine teammates averaging more, but his creative streak means he provides plenty of goalscoring opportunities for Massimo Allegri’s side, with 2.6 key passes per game. This tally is second at the club, behind Antonio Cassano (3.4) and, as a result, the Swede has picked up 5 assists, meaning he has played a part in 25, of the league leaders’ 57 goals, which equates to 44%. Ibrahimovic also threads an impressive 1.1 through balls on average - not only top for his side but third best in Europe.

In terms of successful dribbles, he also leads the way for Milan, with an impressive 2.2 per game far superior to Alexandre Pato (1.5) in second, while Ibrahimovic’s strength in the air and all-round game is highlighted by an average of 1.6 successful aerial duels. The star performer for Allegri’s side, the Swede has picked up 10 of the 21 Man of the Match awards for Milan and, with an average of 8.23 in the WhoScored ratings, is the second top forward and third overall for the 2011/12 season to date.

3. Marco Reus, MGladbach. WhoScored Rating 8.00

The 22 year old has featured a few times on the right flank for MGladbach this season but it’s his performances up front that have really caught the eye. Reus has played 24 of his side’s 26 games, grabbing 2 goals from 9 appearances out wide, with 12 goals from 15 games up front in a 4-4-2 indicative of his ability to produce more regularly in a more advanced role. Overall, then, he’s grabbed a total of 14 goals, with an average of 3.4 shots per game the highest at the club, bettering left winger Juan Arango’s 2.7.

Reus sees plenty of the ball for a forward, averaging 40.2 passes, and creates a steady supply of goalscoring opportunities, with 2.3 key passes on average - just edged into second for MGladbach by Arango’s 2.5. The young forward has picked up 6 assists as a result, playing a part in 20, or 51%, of his side’s goals. His all-round strong performance in the WhoScored attacking stats is shown by his ability to beat an opponent; a standout 3.2 successful dribbles per game- top for MGladbach and eighth across Europe’s elite leagues.

Reus also produces a strong defensive shift for his side. A work rate of 1.8 tackles and 1.2 interceptions per game highlights his determination to regain possession; another vital attribute, given that MGladbach average just 53.6% possession. To date, he has picked up 9 of the 18 man of the match awards handed out to MGladbach and, with a match average of 8.00, is the top-rated player in the Bundesliga and fifth overall in the European standings.

4. Wayne Rooney, Manchester United. WhoScored Rating 7.90

Top scorer for the Premier League leaders, Wayne Rooney has netted 20 times in just 25 appearances so far. Manchester United’s most prominent goal threat, Rooney averages 4.6 shots per game - this is the third highest in Europe, with only Cristiano Ronaldo (6.8) and Lionel Messi (5.4) managing more. Given that Danny Welbeck is second for Sir Alex Ferguson’s side, with 2.6, Rooney’s presence up front is clearly crucial.

A tendency to drop deep and seek possession means Rooney sees plenty of the ball. He makes 51 passes per game, with only the United central midfielders averaging more; 5.6 accurate long balls is also indicative of his withdrawn role and is very high for a centre forward. Surprisingly - given the amount of time Rooney is in possession - the number of goalscoring opportunities he creates is fairly low; an average of 1.5 is fifth best at the club and has helped him pick up 4 assists. Combined with his 20 goals, Rooney has played a part in 24 of his side’s 73 goals, or 33%.

While Nani leads the way for successful dribbles at United with 2 per game, Rooney manages just more than half (1.1), though an average of 1 successful aerial duel per game is superior to any United forward, with the likes of Danny Welbeck (0.4), Javier Hernandez (0.2) making a minimal impact in the air. To date, he’s picked up 8 WhoScored man of the match awards – 5 more than Nani and Antonio Valencia, with 3 apiece –  and, with a rating of 7.90, is the top rated player in the Premier League and seventh overall in our European rankings.

5. Robin van Persie, Arsenal. WhoScored Rating 7.88

Top scorer in the Premier League and third highest goalscorer in Europe’s top five leagues, Robin van Persie has found the net 26 times in just 29 appearances for Arsenal. In his first season as the Gunners’ skipper since the departure of Cesc Fabregas to Barcelona, van Persie has averaged 4.4 goal attempts - again, this is amongst the top five in Europe and almost double second placed Theo Walcott (2.4) for Arsene Wenger’s side.

Playing as the lone striker in Arsenal’s 4-2-3-1, van Persie doesn’t see too much possession; an average of 27.1 passes is eighteenth for Wenger’s side and highlights the fact he rarely drops back to link play, with the north London outfit relying on the likes of Mikel Arteta (78.4) to control the game instead. Regardless, van Persie still shows a strong creative streak, producing 2.4 key passes per game - more than Arteta’s 2.1 (despite the latter’s superior time in possession) and top for Arsenal. With an average of 0.4 through balls and 1.3 successful crosses per game allied to his key passes, the Dutchman has provided 9 assists so far - once again, the most of any player for Wenger’s squad. In total, then, his 26 goals and 9 assists mean Van Persie has had a hand in 35 of his side’s 58 goals, which equates to an incredible 60%, highlighting just how crucial his presence is for Arsenal.

The Dutchman’s 1.2 successful dribbles is fifth overall for the Gunners, with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s trickery on the wing averaging 2.1 in comparison. An average of 0.9 successful aerial duels doesn’t so much illustrate the Arsenal captain is poor in the air, but instead highlights the fact that he relies on through balls from the likes of Alex Song (0.7), as opposed to crosses from out wide. Arsena;’s talisman has picked up 10 man of the match awards so far, more than the rest of the Gunners squad combined (9), and has averaged 7.88 over the season, which is ninth overall in Europe’s top five leagues.