La Liga have revealed the six players with the most passes in the 2020/21 campaign. It turns out Barcelona have four players in the top six.
Total passes in 2020/21 La Liga
1. Frenkie de Jong — Barcelona — 2577 passes
2. Sergio Busquets — Barcelona — 2430 passes
3. Dani Parejo — Villarreal — 2420 passes
4. Jordi Alba — Barcelona — 2300 passes
5. Koke — Atletico Madrid — 2100 passes
6. Leo Messi — Barcelona — 2078 passes
While seeing De Jong and Busquets on the list might not be a big surprise, the inclusion of Alba and Messi certainly is. Jordi playing in a more advanced position under Ronald Koeman clearly favours him as he's more involved in the build-up.
As for Leo, him dropping to the midfield to start Barca's attacks is the reason why he's got so many passes. The fact that he's the only forward on the list only makes the achievement more impressive.
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Ronald Koeman reveals what Messi really thinks of Frenkie De Jong
Frenkie De Jong has been a mainstay in Ronald Koeman's starting XI this season and Lionel Messi has some strong opinions about the Dutchman.
"Messi believes that Frenkie is a great player. When we talk with the three of us, Messi really gives his opinion to him. He tries to motivate him," Ronald Koeman said in an interview with Dutch outlet De Telegraaf.
"Messi believes that Frenkie can reach an even higher level. He considers Frenkie very intelligent."
De Jong has played a staggering 4148 minutes for Barcelona this season. No Barca player has played more.
The 23-year-old midfielder has scored 7 goals and assisted 8 in his 47 games for Barca this season.
Both De Jong and Messi are expected to start for Barca when the Catalans clash against Valencia on Sunday.
Deadliest duo at Barca: no players have combined for more Liga goals than Busquets and Messi
Sergio Busquets has recorded four La Liga assist in the 2020/21 season so far, and all of them went to Leo Messi, as per WhoScored. It turns out, this is the best 'assist to goal scorer' record in the league tied with four other duos.
As for the next best 'assist to goal scorer' record at Barcelona, it's the Messi-Antoine Griezmann duo, with the Frenchman providing three assists to the captain.
Last season, meanwhile, the deadliest duo in the league were Luis Suarez and Messi, as the Argentine assisted the former Blaugrana striker on seven occasions.
