Who are the most decisive young players aged under 23 in Europe? Goal gives you the lowdown with our ranking in conjunction with Opta
Kylian Mbappe has never done things like the others. On Sunday, the 19-year-old showed that once again as he captured the spotlight at Stade Velodrome, where he won the match for Paris Saint-Germain.
Head coach Thomas Tuchel admitted that he punished the forward by putting him on the bench for the start of the game against Marseille, but just three minutes after coming onto the field, he accelerated like lightning to open the scoring and tilt the match in PSG’s favour.
Since August, he has posted terrifying figures, already up to 10 goals in Ligue 1 this season. But where does he rank in comparison to other players under 23? Goal has taken a look at the most decisive young players – adding together goals and assists – in Europe’s five major leagues since August 2016.
#25 Franck Kessie 22, Ivorian, AC Milan. 95 matches, 23 times decisive – 14 goals, 9 assists.
#24 Allan Saint-Maximin 21, French, Nice. 86 matches, 23 times decisive – 10 goals, 13 assists.
#23 Leon Bailey 21, Jamaican, Bayer Leverkusen. 65 games, 26 times decisive – 19 goals, 7 assists.
#22 Kelechi Iheanacho 22, Nigerian, Leicester. 69 games, 27 times decisive – 17 goals, 10 assists
#21 Patrick Cutrone 20, Italian, AC Milan 56 matches, 27 times decisive – 23 goals, 4 assists
#20 Lorenzo Pellegrini 22, Italian, Roma. 81 matches, 28 times decisive – 12 goals, 16 assists.
#19 Maxwel Cornet 22, Ivorian, Lyon. 102 games, 29 times decisive – 18 goals, 11 assists.
#18 Christian Pulisic 20, American, Dortmund. 94 matches, 29 times decisive – 12 goals, 17 assists
#17 Maxi Gomez 22, Uruguayan, Celta 47 games, 29 times decisive – 21 goals, 8 assists.
#16 Pablo Fornals 22, Spanish, Villarreal 93 games, 30 times decisive – 13 goals, 17 assists
#15 Jonathan Bamba 22, French, Lille 68 games, 30 times decisive – 18 goals, 12 assists.
#14 Jean-Kevin Augustin 21, French, RB Leipzig 66 games, 30 times decisive – 20 goals, 10 assists.
#13 Kai Havertz 19, German, Bayer Leverkusen 76 games, 31 times decisive – 14 goals, 17 assists.
#12 Marco Asensio 22, Spanish, Real Madrid 105 matches, 34 times decisive – 22 goals, 12 assists.
#11 Mikel Oyarzabal 21, Spanish, Real Sociedad 95 matches, 34 times decisive – 20 goals, 14 assists.
#10 Julian Brandt 22, German, Bayer Leverkusen 92 matches, 34 times decisive – 18 goals, 16 assists.
#9 Gabriel Jesus 21, Brazilian, Manchester City 65 games, 34 times decisive – 26 goals, 8 assists.
#8 Francois Kamano 22, Guinean, Bordeaux 95 matches, 35 times decisive – 25 goals, 10 assists.
#7 Malcom 21, Brazilian, Barcelona 84 matches, 35 times decisive – 21 goals, 14 assists.
#6 Marcus Rashford 20, English, Manchester United 115 games, 38 times decisive – 25 goals, 13 assists.
#5 Ousmane Dembele 21, French, Barcelona 85 games, 48 times decisive – 19 goals, 29 assists.
#4 Leroy Sane 22, German, Manchester City 97 matches, 53 times decisive – 25 goals, 28 assists.
#3 Dele Alli 22, English, Tottenham 106 matches, 62 times decisive – 38 goals, 24 assists.
#2 Timo Werner 22, German, RB Leipzig 88 matches, 62 times decisive – 46 goals, 16 assists.
#1 Kylian Mbappe 19, French, PSG 100 games, 90 times decisive – 59 goals, 31 assists.