Messi leagues ahead in minutes per goal involvement

Statistics compiled from this season reveal Lionel Messi is by far the most valuable attacking footballer in terms of goals per minutes in Europe's top five leagues.

Lionel Messi in action for Barcelona Source: AAP

Messi, who was in scintillating form in Barcelona's 2-1 victory over Sevilla on Sunday, leads the way with his eight goals and three assists in nine La Liga matches for Barcelona.

This leaves the Argentine way out on top with a goal or assist less than every 55 minutes.

Crucially, the stats, complied by Transfermarkt and analysed by Financial Times data journalist John Burn-Murdoch, do not include penalty goals.

The world's highest-paid athlete Cristiano Ronaldo is surprisingly low down the pecking order, as is France and Atletico Madrid forward Antoine Griezmann - another favourite for the 2016 Ballon d'Or.

Philippe Coutinho is the most influential in the Premier League, but only just scrapes into the top 10 of Europe's elite.