The 2026-27 football season is already producing impressive individual performances, with attacking players across Europe’s major leagues making strong starts to the campaign.

Barcelona, Real Madrid and Chelsea stars are among the leading goal contributors, while a number of surprise names have also emerged in the early weeks of the season.

The ranking, as posted by Planet Football on Wednesday, combines goals and assists recorded in the Premier League, Bundesliga, La Liga, Serie A and Ligue 1.

Where players are level on total goal contributions, the ranking is determined by their contribution-per-minute ratio.

Here is the full list of the top 10 players based on the figures available:

10. Roberto Fernández — 6 contributions
Goals: 6 | Assists: 0

Espanyol striker Roberto Fernández has made an impressive start to the campaign despite his side’s inconsistent opening.

The 24-year-old announced himself with a brace in Espanyol’s 4-0 victory over Levante before finding the net against Real Sociedad, Osasuna and Rayo Vallecano.

His early scoring form has attracted attention, with Espanyol manager Manolo González praising the striker’s performances.

9. Lamine Yamal — 6 contributions
Goals: 6 | Assists: 0
Barcelona teenager Lamine Yamal has also enjoyed a prolific start to the new campaign.

Yamal has scored six times in La Liga, although he is yet to register an assist in the competition. He has, however, provided two assists in the Champions League.

The young forward continues to establish himself as one of Barcelona’s most influential attacking players, with his goalscoring figures particularly notable at this stage of the season.

8. Fermín López — 6 contributions
Goals: 4 | Assists: 2
Barcelona academy graduate Fermín López has provided another attacking threat for the Catalan club.

The midfielder has recorded four goals and two assists, giving him six goal contributions so far.
His performances have further underlined his growing importance to Barcelona as one of the club’s emerging attacking talents.

7. João Pedro — 6 contributions
Goals: 3 | Assists: 3
Chelsea forward João Pedro is the only Premier League player to make the top 10.

The Brazilian has scored and assisted in three of his four appearances so far, making a significant contribution to Chelsea’s attacking play.

His combination with Cole Palmer and Morgan Rogers has also offered the London club an encouraging attacking partnership during the opening weeks of the campaign.

6. Mariano Díaz — 6 contributions
Goals: 3 | Assists: 3
Former Real Madrid striker Mariano Díaz has produced one of the more unexpected starts to the season.

The forward has already matched his combined league goal and assist tally from the previous seven seasons, during which he recorded just three goals and one assist between 2019 and 2026.

His return to form has made him one of the surprise attacking stories of the opening weeks of the campaign.

5. Donyell Malen — 6 contributions
Goals: 6 | Assists: 0
Donyell Malen has scored six goals without registering an assist, but he has reached that tally in significantly fewer minutes than the other players with the same number of contributions.

The former Aston Villa forward has needed just 255 minutes to score six goals, averaging a goal every 42 minutes.

Since joining Roma in January, the Netherlands international has continued to demonstrate an impressive scoring rate.

4. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang — 7 contributions
Goals: 5 | Assists: 2
At 37, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has produced a remarkable start to the season.

The veteran striker has scored in every appearance so far and has registered five goals and two assists.

His consistency in front of goal has made him one of the standout performers during the opening weeks of the campaign.

3. Sergio Camello — 7 contributions
Goals: 6 | Assists: 1
Rayo Vallecano forward Sergio Camello has emerged as another surprise name near the top of the standings.

The striker has already scored six league goals, matching his best-ever tally in the competition.

His sudden scoring burst has made him one of the standout performers in La Liga so far this season.

2. Kylian Mbappé — 9 contributions
Goals: 7 | Assists: 2
Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappé continues to make his mark at the start of the campaign.

The France international has scored seven goals and provided two assists, taking his total to nine goal contributions.

Mbappé added another goal in Real Madrid’s 3-2 victory over Elche before setting up Carlos Espí’s dramatic injury-time winner.

His latest numbers once again place him among Europe’s most productive attacking players.
1. Raphinha — 9 contributions
Goals: 6 | Assists: 3
Barcelona winger Raphinha currently tops the ranking with nine goal contributions.

The Brazilian has scored six goals and supplied three assists, taking on an increasingly important attacking role following changes to Barcelona’s forward line.

His understanding with fellow Barcelona attacker Lamine Yamal has also been a notable feature of the club’s attack, while the arrival of new players has given the Spanish side additional attacking options.

With Raphinha and Mbappé both recording nine goal contributions, the battle for the leading individual attacking numbers is already shaping up as one of the notable storylines of the 2026-27 season.

Top 10 at a glance
Position
Player
Goals
Assists
Contributions
1
Raphinha
6
3
9
2
Kylian Mbappé

7
2
9
3
Sergio Camello

6
1
7
4
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang

5
2
7
5
Donyell Malen

6
0
6
6
Mariano Díaz

3
3
6
7
João Pedro

3
3
6
8
Fermín López

4
2
6
9
Lamine Yamal

6
0
6
10
Roberto Fernández

6
0
6
Figures based on the statistics available and cited by Planet Football on Wednesday.

Rankings can change as the season progresses.

Former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Yves Bissouma has joined Dutch giants Ajax on a short-term deal, with the Mali international set to remain at the club until the end of the 2026 season.

Bissouma became a free agent in June after Tottenham released him following three seasons with the North London club.

According to BBC Sport, the 30-year-old defensive midfielder has signed an initial contract with Ajax that runs until the end of the season, with an option to extend the agreement for another 12 months.

Ajax technical director Jordi Cruyff confirmed that the club had been in discussions with Bissouma since August before completing the move.

“We have brought in an experienced player who knows what it takes to perform at the highest level. He is capable of playing in several positions, and we hope he will be available for selection as soon as possible,” Cruyff said.

Bissouma began his professional career in France before establishing himself in English football with Brighton and Hove Albion.

He joined Tottenham from Brighton in 2022 and went on to make 111 appearances for the Premier League club across competitions.

His time at Tottenham, however, was marked by inconsistent involvement, particularly towards the end of his spell.

In August 2025, then-Tottenham manager Thomas Frank left Bissouma out of the squad for the UEFA Super Cup against Paris Saint-Germain, with persistent lateness cited as the reason for his omission.

Bissouma subsequently struggled for regular playing time during his final campaign in North London. He made 11 appearances in the Premier League in his final season, with Tottenham finishing 17th for the second consecutive campaign.

The midfielder now moves to Ajax looking to revive his career and secure more consistent playing opportunities.

His arrival also provides Ajax with additional experience and versatility in midfield as the Dutch club continues its campaign.

For Bissouma, the move represents a return to a country where he previously played before moving to England, and offers the Mali international another opportunity to compete at a high level and establish himself as a regular first-team player.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup has brought the international careers of several established football stars to an end, with a number of high-profile players announcing their retirement from international football following the tournament.

The list features World Cup winners, national team captains and long-serving stars from Europe, Africa and South America.

Some of the players made their decisions immediately after their teams’ campaigns ended, while others announced their international retirement in the weeks following the tournament.

Nigeria Insight takes a look at 10 notable footballers who have ended their international careers or announced their departure from international football following the 2026 World Cup.

1. Lionel Messi — Argentina
Argentina captain Lionel Messi announced his retirement from international football after the 2026 World Cup, where the defending champions reached the final.

The 39-year-old remains Argentina’s record appearance-maker and leading goalscorer, with 207 caps and 125 goals.

Messi’s international career has included the 2022 FIFA World Cup triumph in Qatar and multiple Copa América titles.

FIFA reported that the Argentina captain is expected to make a farewell appearance for the national team against Benin in Buenos Aires on October 6.

2. Neymar — Brazil
Brazilian superstar Neymar also brought his international career to an end after the 2026 World Cup.

The forward made his Brazil debut in 2010 and went on to represent the country at four World Cup tournaments.

Following Brazil’s elimination from the 2026 competition, Neymar confirmed that his international journey had come to an end.

He leaves the national team having established himself as one of Brazil’s most recognisable players of his generation.

3. James Rodríguez — Colombia
Colombia captain James Rodríguez announced his international retirement on September 15, 2026.

The 35-year-old represented Colombia at three World Cups and leaves the national team as the country’s all-time leader in appearances, with 131 caps, and assists, with 43.

Rodríguez also remains Colombia’s leading scorer at the World Cup, with six goals.

His international career included a memorable performance at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, where he won the Golden Boot after scoring six goals.

4. Manuel Neuer — Germany
Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer ended his international career after the 2026 World Cup.

The 40-year-old had previously retired from international football following Euro 2024 but returned to the Germany squad for the World Cup.

Neuer’s international career included Germany’s 2014 World Cup triumph in Brazil.

He was also widely associated with the evolution of the modern goalkeeper role through his ability to play outside the penalty area and contribute to his team’s build-up.

5. Guillermo Ochoa — Mexico
Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa also ended his international career after the tournament.

Ochoa became one of Mexico’s most recognisable footballers during a career that featured multiple World Cup appearances.

The goalkeeper made a brief appearance during Mexico’s 2026 campaign before receiving a farewell from his teammates and supporters.

His performances at previous World Cups, particularly his goalkeeping displays, helped establish him as one of Mexico’s most prominent players of his era.

6. Riyad Mahrez — Algeria
Former Manchester City star Riyad Mahrez retired from international football after Algeria’s elimination from the 2026 World Cup.

Mahrez made his World Cup debut in 2014 and remained a key figure for Algeria for more than a decade.

The winger scored twice at the 2026 tournament before Algeria were eliminated by Switzerland.

Mahrez was also an important member of the Algeria side that won the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations.

7. Édouard Mendy — Senegal
Senegal goalkeeper Édouard Mendy announced his international retirement in September.

The 34-year-old finished his Senegal career with 59 appearances.

Mendy was part of the Senegal team that won the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, the country’s first major continental title.

He also played a significant role in Senegal’s rise as one of Africa’s leading national teams during his international career.

8. Iñaki Williams — Ghana
Ghana forward Iñaki Williams announced his international retirement after the Black Stars’ defeat by Colombia in the Round of 32.

Williams ended his four-year international career with 28 appearances for Ghana.

The Athletic Bilbao forward switched his international allegiance to Ghana after previously representing Spain at senior level.

His decision brought an end to a period in which he featured prominently for the Black Stars in major international competitions.

9. Edin Džeko — Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina captain Edin Džeko announced on September 3, 2026, that he would retire from international football.

The 40-year-old is scheduled to play his final match for Bosnia and Herzegovina against Sweden on October 2 in the UEFA Nations League.

Džeko has been one of the most important players in Bosnia and Herzegovina’s football history.

He is the country’s record goalscorer and appearance-maker and has served as captain for many years.

His international career also included Bosnia and Herzegovina’s first appearance at a FIFA World Cup in 2014.

10. Seko Fofana — Côte d’Ivoire
Côte d’Ivoire midfielder Seko Fofana announced his retirement from international football on September 14, 2026, at the age of 31.

Fofana made 34 appearances for the Elephants and scored seven goals.

He was also part of the Côte d’Ivoire squad that won the Africa Cup of Nations on home soil in 2024.

His decision makes him one of the younger players on the list to bring his international career to an end.

A changing generation
The retirement announcements signal a significant change in the international football landscape, with several players who dominated the game for more than a decade now leaving the international stage.

Messi, Neymar, Mahrez, Neuer, Ochoa and Džeko, among others, have represented their countries at multiple major tournaments and accumulated hundreds of international appearances between them.

Their departures will create opportunities for younger players to take on greater responsibilities as national teams begin preparations for the next cycle of international competitions.