Ranked: Neymar Beats Mbappe, Haaland to Top Chart of Most Productive Players in Europe

• The biggest currency in football is goals and forwards who have mastered the craft of scoring command the biggest fees
• While the season is entering its business end, most footballers have stepped up their game and are churning out goals
• Sports Brief takes a look at the five most proficient attackers including Neymar, Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland

Neymar is often on the receiving end of backlash, presumably due to his nonchalant approach to the game.

Nonetheless, his efficiency and efficacy with the round leather object is undeniable.

Touted as one of the most technically gifted players in the modern era, the 31-year-old's season has been punctuated by nagging injuries.

However, these have not stopped him from becoming the most productive player in Europe's top five leagues.

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Sports Brief takes a look at the top five players who have been directly involved in goals scored - all the stats in this article are culled from Transfermarkt.

5. Lionel Messi (30 goal contributions)

Despite being on the wrong side of age and in the twilight of his glittering career, Lionel Messi has been at his devastating best this campaign.

He recently reminded the football world why he is considered the greatest footballer to have graced the sport with a last-ditch freekick which arrested Paris Saint-Germain's three-game losing streak.

While his goal-scoring prowess has declined with age, the veteran playmaker has mustered 16 goals and 14 assists across all competitions for PSG.

4. Marcus Rashford (33 goal contributions)

Currently the most in-form attacker in the sport, Marcus Rashford is simply unstoppable.

Virtually every game involving Manchester United results in him scoring.

Since the club football returned after the World Cup break, the Englishman has been in beast mode.

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Rashford's brace against Leicester City meant he scored in his last seven appearances at Old Trafford.

3. Kylian Mbappe (34 goal contributions)

Perhaps the most important component of PSG's vaunted attacking trio is Kylian Mbappe.

Since bursting on the scene as a teenager, the 2022 World Cup Golden Boot winner has not looked back and has continued to greater feats.

This season has not been an exception. Mbappe has been banging in goals at sixes and sevens with little fuss.

The 24-year-old has impressively notched a whopping 27 goals and contributed with six assists underlining his efficiency in the final third.

2. Erling-Braut Haaland (34 goal contributions)

Erling Haaland, the Norwegian goal-scoring freak, needs no introduction and is a regular name on rankings of this nature.

The former Borussia Dortmund striker has literally shattered goal-scoring records for fun since joining Manchester City.

Haaland could eclipse Mohamed Salah's 32-goal haul in the Premier League per his goal-to-game ratio.

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He has an eyewatering 26 goals in 23 Premier League games in addition to his 5 goals in the Champions League and a single strike in the Carabao Cup.

The 22-year-old even boasts four assists to add to his 32 goals across all competitions.

1. Neymar (35 goal contributions)

Not even the most-liked footballer in his home country of Brazil, Neymar continues to allow his performances on the field to silence his critics.

Although his pre-World Cup form has waned a little, the 31-year-old has been nothing less but phenomenal this season.

Neymar has scored at least a goal in every competition he has played in this season while also dishing out assists like rice and stew.

Unfortunately, his prowess on the field has been short-circuited by a sprained ankle which he sustained in PSG's thrilling 4-3 win over Lille.