Players with best goal-per-game rate in 21st century: Messi behind Haaland

Who is the most prolific goalscorer in the 21st century?

Stats say it's Erling Haaland who averages 0.8 goals per game. Leo Messi, however, is inches close to the Norwegian despite having played many more games for bigger clubs than Molde, Red Bull Salzburg and Borussia Dortmund where Haaland used to bang tons of goals.

Expectedly, it is Cristiano Ronaldo who completes the top 3.

1. Erling Haaland - 0.8 goals per game (212 goals in 264 appearances*)

2. Leo Messi - 0.79 goals per game (817 goals in 1035 appearances)

3. Cristiano Ronaldo - 0.72 goals per game (844 goals in 1175 appearances)

3. Kylian Mbappe - 0.72 goals per game (280 goals in 391 appearances)

5. Robert Lewandowski - 0.71 goals per game (636 goals in 900 appearances)

6. Neymar - 0.61 goals per game (434 goals in 707 appearances)

6. Harry Kane - 0.61 goals per game (355 goals in 586 appearances)

8. Luis Suarez - 0.59 goals per game (543 goals in 913 appearances)

9. Zlatan Ibrahimovic - 0.58 goals per game (573 goals in 988 appearances)

10. Klaas-Jan Huntelaar - 0.55 goals per game (409 goals in 737 appearances)

*only club appearances are counted

Ronaldo finally not on list: Latest Ballon d'Or odds