Manchester City ace Kevin de Bruyne is outperforming Barcelona star Lionel Messi this season, according to statistics.

De Bruyne is already leading the assist table in the Premier League with 16, closing down on Thierry Henry's record of 20 in one season.

His tally is also the most of any player in Europe's top five leagues - a statistic made even more impressive when compared to the best playmakers across the continent.

De Bruyne's 16 assists come from 23 clear cut chances created this season, the most of any Premier League player.

Incredibly, he has created more of these opportunities than Barcelona's Messi (22), but trails Thomas Muller of Bayern Munich (24) and Angel di Maria at PSG (32), according to WhoScored.com.

When it comes to key passes, De Bruyne is streets ahead of any other player in Europe, making 72 this season. Muller is closest with 57, level with Aston Villa's Jack Grealish, followed by Di Maria (56).

Messi, significantly, is not among the top six midfielders and forwards in the key passes ranks, according to WhoScored.