Stats Analysis: Europe's Most Accurate Finishers

The art of finishing is one that has been flaunted to the fullest over Europe's top 5 leagues this season, with 22 players having already scored more than 10 goals thus far. WhoScored has decided to look at a facet to the top scorers shooting that has not yet been analysed - accuracy - as well as revisiting the best strikers in terms of chance conversion rate in Europe.

We have attempted to investigate any correlation in terms of shot accuracy and goals scored, focusing on 10 of the aforementioned 22 top scorers, with a number of standout marksmen. All averages used were based on those of all 22 scorers of 11 goals or more and not merely the 10 individuals analysed in-depth.

The graph below is separated into 4 sections. Players to have scored under the average amount of goals (14.36) of the top 22 scorers, as well as possessing a lower than average shot accuracy of the same players are found in the bottom left segment. Most of the top 22 scorers were grouped in this area, including 4 of the players on which we have focused.

Having scored 14 goals this season, Zlatan Ibrahimovic (38%) has the worst shot accuracy of any player to score over 10 goals this season, while Wayne Rooney (42%), Marco Reus (44%) and, the only Frenchman to make the grade in terms of goals scored, Olivier Giroud (46%) all rank below the average of 48% for shot accuracy. Interestingly Europe's third top and indeed top scorer - Robin van Persie (19) and Cristiano Ronaldo (23) - also rank below par for shot accuracy with 46% and 38% respectively, proving that when they do hit the target their efforts are almost unstoppable.

Only 3 of our analysed stars are placed in the most favourable segment of our graph (top right) having scored a higher than average amount of goals of the top 22 scorers and managed an above average shot accuracy of said players to boot. Newcastle's Demba Ba has been a revolution this season, netting 15 times for his new club and hitting the target with half (50%) of his attempts. Mario Gomez's composure and accuracy in front of goal is even better having hit the target with 60% of his efforts and found the net 16 times already.

Although Lionel Messi (22) has scored one less goal than Ronaldo this year, just 2 of the Argentine's strikes have come from the penalty compared to a remarkable 9 of the Madrid man's 23 (39%). Therefore, the three-time Ballon d'Or recipient’s shot accuracy of 52% is all the more impressive, though it is one of the Portuguese international's teammates who leads the way of the top 22 scorers when it comes to shot accuracy. Gonzalo Higuain's 14 goals have come having hit the target with 61% of his attempts he is clearly in the most clinical form of his life, and it doesn't end there for Messi's compatriot.

The 24-year-old has far and away the best conversion rate of the top 22 scorers in Europe having taken just 36 shots for his 14 goals. This means that he scores with almost 39% of his total efforts at goal, which - when compared to our other analysed players - is an incredible achievement. In the above graph, Ba and Gomez are the only other two sharp shooters to place above average for goals and the average chance conversion of the top 22 of 23.1%, highlighting the form the pair have been in for their respective clubs.

Ibrahimovic, Giroud and Reus are all found in the least desirable, bottom left segment of our graph once again, while Wayne Rooney's strike rate is the worst of any player to score over 10 goals when it comes to shot per goal. The Manchester United forward has found the net with just over 14% of his efforts, which in turn is just over a third of Higuain's conversion rate.

Lionel Messi finds himself in the above average goals, but below average conversion rate with 22.2% of his shots finding the net, where he is joined by the other two of the top 3 scorers in Europe in Ronaldo and van Persie. While the trio lead the way for goals, it is Higuain who shines when it comes to accuracy and, in turn, conversion rate. It is a wonder why he has started less than half of Madrid's games this season, though he will undoubtedly be key to ensuring they keep Barca off the top spot if he can continue his form in front of goal.