Shooting Efficiency vs. Shooting Volume, by Benjamin Morris, http://fivethirtyeight.com/features/lionel-messi-is-impossible/

“Lionel Messi is impossible” by Benjamin Morris on Lionel Messi’s goal and assist statistics the last four years is the best player-focused piece of data-based analytical football writing I have ever read, and a perfect warm-up for tonight’s match. Short summary: Messi is an outlier in nearly every desirable offensive way. Above is one example.