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Football is a game where the team scoring the most goals and not necessarily the most shots on target win.
While more shots on target increases the chances of finding the net, it is also important to take these shots from good areas and with the right technique. That is a skill that has been mastered by many top players like Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, to name a few, over the years.
Data and analytics have shown that shot location is often a key metric in the game. The likes of Wolverhampton Wanderers' Ruben Neves is a prime example of a player who needs to curb his trigger-happy instinct and focus more on the quality of his shots.
On that note, let's take a look at the five players with the most shots on target in Europe's top five leagues in 2020-21. Without further ado, let's get started.
#5 Kylian Mbappe (Paris Saint-Germain) | 55 shots
Kylian Mbappe's rise to the top has been well-documented. The 22-year-old FIFA World Cup winner is one of the best young players in the game and rightly so.
After bursting onto the scene at AS Monaco, Mbappe joined French giants Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) on a £130.5 million transfer in 2017. Eyebrows were raised at the time at his humongous fee.
But Mbappe has proved to be a good acquisition by the Parisian giants, as he has already achieved a lot despite only being 22. Despite PSG failing to do a four-peat in the Ligue 1 this season, Mbappe picked up his third consecutive Golden Boot in the competition.
Many regard Mbappe as the player who will likely dominate the footballing landscape for the next decade. The France international made 31 appearances in Ligue 1 this season, scoring 27 goals and providing seven assists. Mbappe has been linked with Real Madrid and Liverpool recently.
#4 Andre Silva (Eintracht Frankfurt) | 63 shots
Andre Silva was a highly-regarded player during his days at Porto, but his subsequent spell at AC Milan did not go according to plan.
The Portugal international then joined Eintracht Frankfurt on loan in 2019, and his impressive performances resulted in the Bundesliga side making his deal permanent the next year. Silva was one of the best strikers in the Bundesliga this season, finishing as the highest goalscorer behind a certain Robert Lewandowski during the 2020-21 campaign.
The 25-year old made 32 appearances in the 2020-21 Bundesliga, scoring 28 goals and providing five assists. Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid and Manchester United are reportedly interested in the striker.
Also Read: UEFA Euro 2020: Top 5 contenders to win the tournament.
#3 Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich) | 68 shots
Arguably the best player in world football at the moment, Robert Lewandowski is ageing like fine wine.
Bayern Munich's acquisition of Lewandowski on a free transfer has to go down as one of the best deals in the history of the sport. The Poland international has been sensational during his stint with the Bavarians, scoring 294 goals in 329 appearances in all competitions after arriving in 2014.
This season, Lewandowski made only 29 league appearances but scored a staggering 41 goals to break Gerd Muller (40)'s near five-decade-old record of most goals in a Bundesliga season.
Last season as well, the 32-year old was amongst the goals, helping Bayern Munich to a second continental treble in seven years.
#2 Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus) | 69 shots
Juventus endured a poor 2020-21 campaign by their lofty standards, despite Cristiano Ronaldo winning his first Capocannoniere award in his third Serie A campaign.
The Old Lady lost their near decade-long Serie A stranglehold and only managed to scamper into the last four on the final day of the season. Ronaldo, though, continued his goalscoring ways, scoring 29 goals in 33 league games to become one of the oldest Capocannoniere winners.
The Portugal international has been linked with a move away from Juventus in recent weeks. A return to Manchester United has been touted, while Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and his boyhood club Sporting Lisbon have also been linked as potential destinations for the 36-year old.
#1 Lionel Messi (Barcelona) | 91 shots
Arguably one of the greatest players to have graced the game, Lionel Messi registered 91 shots on target during the 2020-21 La Liga season, the most by any player in Europe's top five leagues this campaign.
The Barcelona captain endured a slow start to amass 30 goals and top the La Liga scoring charts for a record-extending eighth time. Messi was under immense pressure this season, but once again, the maestro delivered despite his club's inconsistent performances under new manager Ronald Koeman. However, despite Messi's exploits, Barcelona finished outside the top two for the first time in over a decade.
The Argentina international's contract expires in the summer. For a long time, it seemed unlikely Messi would sign a new deal and stay at Camp Nou beyond this summer. But as per recent reports, the club's all-time top scorer is likely to remain at Barcelona.
Also Read: 5 goalkeepers with most saves in the 2020-21 Premier League season.
