Lionel Messi isn’t having a good season in Ligue 1, not by his own high standards, but the Argentine is nevertheless as productive as ever.
Messi’s move from Barcelona last summer was hoped to be the game changer for Paris Saint-Germain in their quest to reclaim the Ligue 1 title and win the Champions League.
But PSG were knocked out of the Champions League by Real Madrid, and Messi booed by his own fans in their very next game, and the Argentine’s former Barcelona team-mate Cesc Fabregas was not happy.
“You’re talking about a player [Messi] who has just arrived. PSG have never had a player like this in their lives,” he told Marca.
“It’s better to be grateful, to support him and not crush him. This year or next, these guys will bring you great moments.”
Despite PSG’s woes in the Champions League and Messi’s problems in front of goal, scoring just three times in Ligue 1 so far, the Argentine has been a key creator recording 13 assists this season.
Messi is joined on double figures by PSG team-mate and assist leader Kylian Mbappe plus Rennes midfielder Benjamin Bourigeuad who hit a hat-trick of assists against Metz before the international break.
The top five is completed by Dimitri Payet and Jonathan Clauss on nine assists, while there’s a large group of players with eight and seven respectively.
Can Mbappe sustain that playmaker brilliance to scoop the division’s top prize for assists in 2021/22? Keep track of which player has provided the most assists throughout the season below.
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Ligue 1 most assists: 2021/22 season | French top flight
Players with the same amount of assists are ranked by fewer minutes played. Stats correct as of 09:10, 25/04/22.
| Position | Player | Assists | xA | Minutes Played |
| 1st | Kylian Mbappe | 14 | 7.87 | 2,669 |
| 2nd | Lionel Messi | 13 | 7.59 | 1,792 |
| 3rd | Benjamin Bourigeaud | 11 | 10.38 | 2,889 |
| 4th | Dimitri Payet | 10 | 9.93 | 2,504 |
| 5th | Hamari Traoré | 10 | 4.34 | 2,538 |
| 6th | Jonathan Clauss | 10 | 6.47 | 2,706 |
| 7th | Lovro Majer | 8 | 4.63 | 1,494 |
| 8th | Moses Simon | 8 | 7.59 | 2,204 |
| 9th | Ludovic Ajorque | 8 | 3.94 | 2,535 |
| 10th | Gaëtan Laborde | 8 | 4.83 | 2,792 |
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