Lionel Messi

What the columns mean

Read this table as chance quality, not as a scoreboard. A player can outscore xG (finishing well) or lag behind it (missed sitters). Compare rows only when minutes are in the same range.

Apps · Appearances

Matches in which the player was used in this league season, including substitute minutes.

Min · Minutes

Total minutes on the pitch. Useful when comparing output: 1 goal in 90 minutes is not the same as 1 goal in 800.

G · Goals

Goals credited to the player in the Understat shot model for that season.

xG · Expected goals

The quality of shots the player took, expressed as the number of goals an average finisher would score from the same chances. A 0.30 xG shot is a chance that goes in about 3 times in 10.

npxG · Non-penalty xG

Expected goals with penalties removed. This is the cleaner read of open-play and set-piece finishing, because a penalty is usually ~0.76 xG by itself.

A · Assists

Goals that followed the player's last pass. Actual assists, not the model.

xA · Expected assists

The xG value of shots that came directly from the player's key passes. High xA with few assists usually means teammates missed good chances.

Sh · Shots

Total shots recorded by Understat, including blocked and off-target attempts.

KP · Key passes

Passes that led to a shot. This is the volume behind xA.

xGChain · xG chain

Team xG from possessions the player touched. It captures involvement in build-up, not only the shot or the last pass. A midfielder who starts attacks can rank high here without scoring.

xGBuildup · xG buildup

The same possession xG, but excluding the shot-taker and the assist. This is the purest 'how much did this player help create the chance before the final ball' number.

NPG · Non-penalty goals

Goals scored from open play or set pieces, excluding penalties.