REVEALED: Hazard, Messi and Sancho among most valuable players in Europe

Now the first international break of 2019 is upon us, we have the ideal opportunity to take stock of the season so far. With big money moves touted at the end of the season for a number of players, including Eden Hazard and Jadon Sancho, we have decided to delve into Europe’s top five leagues and find out who the most valuable players are on the continent.

Using goals and assists as the metric, we have discovered the top 10 points earners in Europe. For example, Wout Weghorst played a direct hand in all five of Wolfsburg’s goals against Fortuna Duesseldorf in a 5-2 victory on Saturday (three goals, two assists). Without his contribution, the scoreline would have been 2-0 to Duesseldorf. He therefore earned Wolfsburg three points.

Alternatively, James Rodriguez’s hat-trick in a 6-0 win over Mainz on Sunday was worth 0 points, as without his goals the scoreline would have been 3-0 in Bayern Munich’s favour. James Milner’s penalty against Fulham on Sunday was worth two points to Liverpool, as the score would have been 1-1 without his contribution. Liverpool would have therefore still picked up a point had he not converted from the spot.

What if two players in the top-10 have both earned their side the same amount of points with their goals and assists? In this instance, we calculated their points won total as a percentage of their team’s total point haul. What if that percentage is the same? We would then work out their points won total as a percentage of their goals and assists total. Here is the top-10:

10. Duvan Zapata – 17 points won / 38% of Atalanta’s points haul

After embarking on a goalscoring run of eight league games in a row, it is little surprise that Duvan Zapata makes the list. The Atalanta striker scored 14 goals in that run and has played a direct hand in 22 goals in total this season. The 27-year-old was briefly linked with a January move to West Ham and Atalanta may have to brace themselves for offers from several clubs in the summer. Zapata has earned Atalanta three points in their last two matches alone.

9. Wissam Ben Yedder – 17 points / 40% of Sevilla’s points haul

Sevilla striker Wissam Ben Yedder has exploded into form since the turn of the year and is one of the big reasons why the Spanish side are clinging on to the challenge of a top-four finish. The 28-year-old has scored or assisted in four straight league matches and his hat-trick in a 5-2 victory over Real Sociedad earlier this month earned Sevilla two points. Only Lionel Messi (14) and Jaime Mata (10) have scored more La Liga goals than Ben Yedder (8) in 2019.

8. Cristiano Ronaldo – 18 points / 23% of Juventus’ points haul

Cristiano Ronaldo has certainly not disappointed since signing for Juventus last summer. The 34-year-old has played a direct hand in 27 league goals in 26 matches for the Old Lady, who are 15 points clear at the top of Serie A. His importance to Juventus was illustrated at the weekend, as the league leaders succumbed to their first league defeat of the campaign in his absence and didn't even manage a shot on target. Ronaldo’s first ever goals for the club earned Juventus three points, as without his brace against Sassuolo in September, Max Allegri’s side would have lost 1-0.

7. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang – 18 points / 28% of Arsenal’s points haul

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has been a goalscoring machine since joining Arsenal in January 2018. The 29-year-old is one of five players in with a chance of winning the Premier League Golden Boot this season. His contribution hasn’t been as valuable in recent league matches, though he did earn the Gunners three points in a hard fought 2-1 win over Cardiff with a goal and an assist. He is a big reason why Arsenal currently occupy fourth place and are not on the outside looking in.

6. Jadon Sancho – 18 points / 28% of Borussia Dortmund’s points haul

Jadon Sancho’s season has been extraordinary for Borussia Dortmund. The England international has played a direct hand in 20 league goals for the Bundesliga outfit and has remarkably won Lucien Favre’s side 18 points in the process. Dortmund have shown signs of collapsing in recent months but Sancho has stepped up to keep them in the title race. Sancho has earned Dortmund 11 points in matches against Schalke, Gladbach, Leverkusen and Hertha since the start of December. Without Sancho’s total contribution, Dortmund would be down in sixth.

5. Antoine Griezmann – 18 points / 30% of Atletico Madrid’s points haul

Antoine Griezmann hasn’t necessarily been at his best for Atletico Madrid this season but his contributions have been hugely valuable nonetheless. The 27-year-old, who is reportedly pondering his future at the club, has played a direct hand in 19 league goals this season (12 goals, seven points) and they have earned Atletico 18 points.

4. Paul Pogba – 19 points / 33% of Manchester United’s points haul

Paul Pogba has remarkably played a hand in 20 league goals from central midfield this season and they have earned Manchester United 19 points. The 2018 World Cup winner has rediscovered his best form since Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was appointed United interim manager before Christmas and it is no surprise he has earned 11 of those points in that period.

3. Lionel Messi – 20 points / 30% of Barcelona’s points haul

Fresh from his third league hat-trick of the season at the weekend, Lionel Messi slots in at third in the top-10. The Barcelona superstar has played a direct hand in 41 league goals in 26 league appearances this season and has won the WhoScored Man of the Match award 13 times in that period – more than any other player in Europe’s top five leagues. Barcelona are still heavily dependent on Messi, illustrated by the fact his goals and assists have won 20 points in the league this season, making up 30% of Barcelona’s total points haul.

2. Eden Hazard – 20 points / 35% of Chelsea’s points haul 

Chelsea’s loss in the summer will be Real Madrid’s gain, as Eden Hazard has been one of the best players in the Premier League this season. The 28-year-old is the only player to reach double figures for goals and assists in the Premier League this season and most recently rescued a draw against Wolves with a last minute equaliser.

1. Nicolas Pepe – 25 points / 44% of Lille’s points haul

Nicolas Pepe is officially the most valuable player in Europe’s top five leagues this season. The 23-year-old’s goals and assists have phenomenall y earned Lille 25 points this season, which represents 44% of Lille’s points haul this season. Lille are second in Ligue 1 but without Pepe’s contribution they would be down in 14th. Pepe has played a direct hand in 25 goals this season, which works out as a point per goal. Rather than wins against Caen, Marseille and Amiens this season, Lille would have lost all three but for Pepe’s influence.