The biggest xG underperformers from across Europe: Messi, Ronaldo & Insigne

We’ve previously looked into Europe’s most clinical forwards this season and now we’re taking a look into the most wasteful players from across Europe.

We've gathered the xG data from Europe's top five leagues to find out who the top 10 most wasteful forwards have been this season. 

 

10. Lorenzo Insigne 

In January, Lorenzo Insigne signed a pre contract with Toronto FC, having spent his entire career with Napoli so far. Napoli are currently third in Serie A and despite Insigne being their joint-top goalscorer with seven goals, he has actually underperformed his xG.  

The Italian winger has underachieved his xG by 3.3 goals and he looks unlikely to hit the heights of last season when he scored 19 league goals.  

 

9. Gabriel Jesus 

Gabriel Jesus has spent the majority of this season playing on the right-hand side and he started the season brightly, with goals against Arsenal and Chelsea.  

Jesus hasn’t found the back of the net in the Premier League since September though and he has underachieved his xG by 3.3 goals as he has scored two goals from an xG of 5.3. 

 

8. Cristiano Ronaldo 

Despite being Manchester United’s top goalscorer with nine goals, Cristiano Ronaldo has been guily of underperforming his xG so far this season. His nine goals have come from an xG of 12.8, giving him an underperformance of 3.3.  

Ronaldo started out well on his return to Old Trafford, but he has found the back of the net just once in his last eight league appearances. Despite underperforming his xG in the Premier League, he has actually overperformed his xG by 2.7 goals in the Champions League.  

 

7. Karim Onisiwo 

Karim Onisiwo has been the creative spark in Mainz 05 side this season, having picked up seven assists so far.  

Despite his promising creative numbers, he has underperformed his xG by 3.4 goals, having scored three goals from an xG of 6.4. 

 

6. Andrej Kramaric 

Andrej Kramaric hit 20 goals for Hoffenheim last season from an xG of 16.4. This season has been a flip of the script for Kramaric as he has managed just four goals from an xG of 7.5, giving him an underperformance of 3.5 goals. 

He has produced seven assists for Hoffenheim who are in the hunt for a top four finish, but he looks unlikely to match his goal output from last season.  

 

5. Alexandre Lacazette 

Alexandre Lacazette has adapted his role under Mikel Arteta and he is now seen as a facilitator to bring other people into play. He has four assists in his last four appearances for the Gunners as the likes of Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe have taken on the goalscoring onus.  

Lacazette himself has scored just three goals this season, from an xG of 6.5 - an underperformance of 3.5 goals.  

 

4. Bryan Mbeumo 

Only Ivan Toney has averaged more shots per 90 than Bryan Mbeumo in the Brentford squad this season. The French winger has taken 1.9 shots per 90, but has scored just three goals from an xG of 6.5. 

 

3. Lionel Messi 

It’s been no secret that Lionel Messi has had a fairly slow start to his PSG career and while his creative stats have been as good as ever, he’s not been as prolific in front of goal. 

In 17 league appearances, Messi has found the back of the net just twice, despite taking 58 shots. Messi has taken 55% of his shots from outside the box, but he has underperformed his xG in Ligue 1 by 4.6 goals.  

 

2. Terem Moffi 

FC Lorient have struggled so far this season as they currently sit 18th in Ligue 1 and are in danger of being relegated. Terem Moffi was their top scorer last season with 14 goals, but this time around he hasn’t quite been able to deliver on a consistent basis. 

Moffi has scored four goals from an xG of 8.9, giving him an underperformance of 4.9 goals.  

 

1. Burak Yılmaz 

Ranked as the most wasteful forward in Europe this season we have Lille’s Burak Yılmaz. Lille defied the odds last season as they fended off PSG to win the French league and Yılmaz managed to find the back of the net 16 times. 

This season has been quite the fall from grace as Lille currently sit 8th in the league, with Yılmaz only scoring four goals from an xG of 9.3. His underperformance of 5.3 goals makes him the most wasteful forward in Europe’s top five leagues this season.