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The 2021-22 season has been a rollercoaster so far.
Many top clubs have started strongly and asserted their dominance over their domestic leagues, while others have not been as successful in comparison. However, it is still early in the season.
Several top players have been in excellent form so far, while others have not been as fortunate and have failed to perform so far this season. These players have previously built a knack for generating constant output but have failed to do so this season.
Let's take a look at four players who have yet to score a league goal this season.
#4. Nicolas Pepe - Arsenal
Nicolas Pepe was signed from Lille for a reported £72 million in August 2019.
Pepe became Arsenal's club-record signing and it's fair to say he came with lofty expectations. The Ivorian has since divided opinion among the fanbase. Pepe is evidently a talented player: he has shown in the past that he can be lethal on his day.
Pepe is a winger by trade, generally operating on the right side of the midfield. He is a skilled dribbler and also has a mean shot in his Arsenal. The Ivorian has made 98 appearances for the Gunners, scoring 25 goals and providing 18 assists in the process.
Pepe managed ten league goals last season and also scored six in the UEFA Europa League. He is yet to open his account for Arsenal this season, despite making seven appearances. He has only provided one assist for the club this season.
Considering Pepe is the club's record signing, there is no doubt he is part of the core of the young Arsenal side. The Gunners will be counting on him to step up and deliver in the weeks ahead as Arsenal look for a UEFA Champions League spot next season.
#3. Eden Hazard - Real Madrid
Eden Hazard signed for Real Madrid in 2019 for a reported €100 million.
His tenure with Los Blancos has been underwhelming, to say the least. Marred by injuries, it's fair to say that Hazard is yet to hit the levels he managed with Chelsea.
Hazard has made 53 appearances for Real Madrid so far, scoring just five goals in total. He has also managed just nine assists, culminating in what has been the worst-ever period of his career.
The Belgian has already made nine La Liga appearances this season, but has failed to get on the score sheet. His teammates have enjoyed better form this season, most notably Karim Benzema and Vinicius Junior.
Many believe Hazard's time at the club is over and a return to Chelsea is on the cards. While this is purely conjecture, only time will tell how Hazard decides to shape the rest of his career.
#2. Jadon Sancho - Manchester United
After much speculation, Jadon Sancho finally joined Manchester United in July this year.
Costing a reported £73 million, Sancho signed a five-year deal with the Red Devils and came to Old Trafford with lofty expectations. Considering his performances for Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga, many expected him to come to England and bring his form with him.
Things have not worked out as kindly since, with Sancho yet to score a goal in a United shirt this season. While he has an impressive record from his time in Germany, he is yet to hit the ground running at Old Trafford.
Sancho has made seven league appearances for Manchester United, as well as three UEFA Champions League appearances and one in the EFL Cup. The Englishman is yet to score a goal in eleven appearances and has looked underwhelming on the pitch.
While Sancho is still only 21, there is no doubt he has a long way to go in his career. Manchester United fans will be hoping Sancho hits form quickly and begins delivering for the club.
#1. Lionel Messi - Paris Saint-Germain
Lionel Messi signed for Paris Saint-Germain in August 2021 in a deal that can only be described as shocking.
Many expected Messi to remain with his childhood club Barcelona for the rest of his career, but the Argentinian ended up joining PSG on a free transfer. Messi has always delivered big numbers on the club stage and came to PSG with the same expectations.
Since joining, Messi has made eight appearances for the club and is yet to score a league goal for them. It must be said that he does have three goals in the UEFA Champions League, but he is yet to break his Ligue 1 duck.
Messi managed a whopping 672 goals for Barcelona in 778 appearances and boasts one of the best personal records in club football history. There is no doubt he will eventually hit top form for PSG, but it has admittedly been hard for the Argentine to hit the ground running at his new club.
With PSG looking to challenge for both the Ligue 1 title and the UEFA Champions League, Messi's contributions will play a key role in determining the club's fortunes this season.
