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As a footballer, few can come close to being put on the same level as Lionel Messi. The Argentine has been the biggest contender for the greatest footballer in the modern era ever since he began his exploits with Barcelona. Lionel Messi has been a superstar, be it at an individual level or collectively for Barcelona.
Lionel Messi's switch to PSG hasn't been smooth
A few years ago, nobody would have believed that Lionel Messi would be changing clubs. But it did happen, as Barcelona's financial troubles resulted in the club being unable to retain its services. Lionel Messi, after a heartbreaking farewell, switched to PSG in the 2021 summer.
While his assists have started to pick up, he has scored just two league goals since joining PSG.
The next five names aren't the first images that come to anyone's mind as goal scorers. But each of these five players have each scored more league goals than Lionel Messi this season.
#5 Reece James - 4 goals
Injuries to footballers have never been a nice thing, and Reece James has been a victim of it this campaign. Nevertheless, he had a brilliant start to the season and was a regular contributor in defense and offense. Like Lionel Messi and his evolution from La Masia, Reece James is a home-grown player at Chelsea.
His talent was easy to spot in his debut, and he quickly rose to the first team. James made the most of his early opportunities and showed why Chelsea wouldn't have to worry about the right-back position for a long time. James' greatest asset is his ability to be defensively solid and move up the pitch to assist in attack.
He has made only 16 appearances this season due to injuries. However, James has already scored two more league goals than Lionel Messi has managed in Ligue 1.
#4 Theo Hernandez - 4 goals
One of the best left-backs globally, Theo Hernandez has been meant for big things since his early days. His move from Real Madrid to AC Milan resulted due to Theo seeking minutes, and he has received exactly that. It has helped him grab the headlines in Serie A.
Theo is an offensive wing-back who loves to go up the pitch whenever he gets the chance. He is extremely mobile and has the technical ability to carry the ball up the pitch. He has terrific vision as well, which adds to his overall gameplay.
Hernandez has already made 21 appearances in Serie A. While goal-scoring is not his strong forte, Hernandez has already scored four goals in the domestic league. For the time being, his goal tally is higher than that of Lionel Messi when domestic leagues are concerned.
#3 Ander Herrera - 3 goals
Little would Ander Herrera have known that Lionel Messi would one day be his teammate. The former Manchester United midfielder moved to PSG as a free agent in 2019. While Herrera hasn't had a shortage of minutes at PSG, many feel that he has lost the senior role he once enjoyed at Manchester United.
However, Herrera is a tenacious midfielder who offers the necessary protection to PSG's front three. While Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe may be the more illustrious names, Herrera has been no less effective.
It's no surprise that Herrera has made 17 appearances in the league all season. While his primary role is to keep the midfield and the ball rolling, Herrera has scored one more league goal than Lionel Messi, with the last one coming as part of a brace against Clermont Foot.
#2 Fred - 3 goals
Despite his recent performance improvements, Fred is not a fan favorite at Old Trafford. An acquisition from Shakhtar Donetsk, Fred hasn't been able to justify the price Manchester United paid for him. While Fred displays his passing abilities at times, he is equally error-prone.
However, the lack of other options has meant that Fred has continued to receive the minutes. Ralf Rangnick has entrusted Fred several times, and he has been better under the German than he was under Ole Gunnar Solsjkaer. Interestingly enough, he has already scored more under the new manager than he did under Solskjaer.
Fred's banger against Leeds United was his third league goal this season. While there can be no comparison between him and Lionel Messi, Fred is ahead in terms of league goals for the time being.
#1 Idrissa Gueye - 3 goals
Idrissa Gueye is not a footballer whose name will not usually be associated with goals. Instead, Gueye is a typical hard tackler known for defensive acumen. He is an extremely orthodox defensive midfielder in every sense, and many were surprised when PSG invested in him.
However, Gueye has shown that he has the necessary ability to perform at a club like PSG. While he hasn't always been a starter, Gueye has been used for the first team more often than not. He is regarded as a handy player in the Premier League for Everton, and his reputation has been enhanced over the last few years.
With 16 appearances in Ligue 1, Gueye has participated in one more league match than Lionel Messi. But that's not all, as Gueye has interestingly scored one more goal than Messi in the French league.
