“Messi is still the king of Europe with impressive statistics.”

Lionel Messi, one of the greatest icons in football history, remains an unbeatable reference for players in Europe, even three years after leaving European fields. Recently, during an international break, statistics emerged that remind us of just how extraordinary the Argentine forward truly is. Data compiled by Squawka reveals that, since the start of the 2017-18 season, Messi still leads in key metrics across all five major European leagues.

In the category of goals scored from outside the box, Messi remains unmatched. Since 2017, the Argentine star has found the net with an impressive 40 goals from outside the area in just 196 matches. To put this into perspective, his closest competitors, Kylian Mbappé and Harry Kane, have 26 and 24 goals, respectively, but have played significantly more matches: 67 and 97. This fact underscores a crucial point: Messi’s ability to convert long-range shots into goals is a rare talent that few players can replicate.

Additionally, the statistic of hitting the woodwork reveals the almost supernatural precision of the Argentine. Since 2017, Messi has struck the woodwork 54 times, a mark that is 11 more than Robert Lewandowski, who, despite playing in Europe for three more seasons, could not match this feat. Comparatively, Cristiano Ronaldo, who left European football six months before Messi, has only hit the woodwork on 27 occasions.

When it comes to creating opportunities, Messi also stands out. With 168 “big chances created” since 2017, he narrowly surpassed Belgian Kevin De Bruyne, who has 167. Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah follows in third place with 145, a notable difference of 23 chances, despite having played over a hundred more matches.

In terms of assists, Messi has completed an impressive total of 132 assists between 2017-18 and 2022-23. This figure is so extraordinary that only five players in the last decade have managed to reach half of this feat. The closest to him, Bruno Fernandes, is an impressive 48 assists away. Neymar also deserves an honorable mention, with 79 assists completed in 112 matches in Ligue 1, but still falls short of Messi’s legacy.

In summary, the statistics do not lie: Lionel Messi remains one of the greatest talents football has ever seen. Even away from Europe, the Argentine continues to be a benchmark figure that challenges everyone to reach him. His ability to score, create, and transform the game continues to impact the sport, serving as a reminder that, even in his absence, his presence is undeniably felt.

This article first appeared on Apito Final.