Traditional passing statistics often reward safe play, but football’s true innovators are those who dare to take risks. For attacking midfielders and wingers, “bravery on the ball” means attempting progressive passes, through balls, and key passes—even at the cost of lower completion rates. In this study, we analyze Europe’s top 5 leagues over the last three seasons to identify and celebrate the most daring creators.
Key metrics measured:
- Progressive Passes per 90
- Through Balls per 90
- Key Passes per 90
- Expected Assisted Goals (xAG) per 90
- Passes into Final Third per 90
- Passes into Penalty Area per 90
- Progressive Carries per 90
We focus on five standout players: Florian Wirtz, Jamal Musiala, Vinícius Júnior, Eberechi Eze, Bukayo Saka.
Section 1: Defining “Bravery on the Ball”
Most defenders and deep midfielders can rack up 90%+ pass completion rates by choosing safe passes. In contrast, top AMs and wingers are tasked with breaking down organized defenses—requiring riskier, line-breaking actions. Advanced analytics allow us to isolate and reward this creative risk.
Sample Graph:
A bar chart comparing average pass completion rates of defenders (e.g., 89%), central midfielders (86%), and AM/Wingers (76%) in the top 5 leagues.
Section 2: The Metrics That Matter
Progressive Passes per 90
Definition: Passes that move the ball considerably closer to the opponent’s goal.
| Player | 2021/22 | 2022/23 | 2023/24 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Florian Wirtz | 4.7 | 5.1 | 5.0 |
| Jamal Musiala | 4.2 | 4.4 | 4.5 |
| Vinícius Júnior | 3.8 | 4.0 | 4.1 |
| Eberechi Eze | 3.7 | 4.0 | 4.2 |
| Bukayo Saka | 3.3 | 3.6 | 3.7 |
Graph:
Line chart showing the trend for each player over three seasons.
Through Balls per 90
All five players attempt more through balls than their positional peers. Wirtz and Musiala lead in the Bundesliga:
| Player | 2021/22 | 2022/23 | 2023/24 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Florian Wirtz | 0.3 | 0.4 | 0.4 |
| Jamal Musiala | 0.4 | 0.5 | 0.5 |
| Vinícius Júnior | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 |
| Eberechi Eze | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.3 |
| Bukayo Saka | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.3 |
Graph:
Grouped bar chart comparing through balls per 90 by season.
Key Passes per 90
| Player | 2021/22 | 2022/23 | 2023/24 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Florian Wirtz | 2.1 | 2.3 | 2.4 |
| Jamal Musiala | 1.8 | 2.0 | 2.1 |
| Vinícius Júnior | 1.7 | 1.8 | 1.9 |
| Eberechi Eze | 1.5 | 1.6 | 1.7 |
| Bukayo Saka | 1.6 | 1.7 | 1.8 |
Expected Assisted Goals (xAG) per 90
| Player | 2021/22 | 2022/23 | 2023/24 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Florian Wirtz | 0.23 | 0.25 | 0.28 |
| Jamal Musiala | 0.18 | 0.20 | 0.22 |
| Vinícius Júnior | 0.24 | 0.26 | 0.27 |
| Eberechi Eze | 0.16 | 0.18 | 0.19 |
| Bukayo Saka | 0.22 | 0.23 | 0.24 |
Graph:
Scatter plot: xAG per 90 vs Key Passes per 90 for each player, each season.
Section 3: Player Profiles
Florian Wirtz (Bayer Leverkusen, Bundesliga)
- Strengths: Vision, incisive through balls, progressive passing
- Tactical fit: Central to Alonso’s possession game, allowed to roam and pick passes
- Stats highlight: Highest progressive passes and key passes among his age group in Europe
- Visual: Radar chart comparing Wirtz to Bundesliga AMs for progressive actions and xAG
Jamal Musiala (Bayern Munich, Bundesliga)
- Strengths: Ball-carrying, dribbling into danger zones, creative final ball
- Tactical fit: Frequently combines with Bayern’s forwards, high volume of risky passes
- Stats highlight: Bundesliga leader for through balls attempted, top 10 for key passes
- Visual: Heat map showing progressive carries and passes in attacking third
Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid, La Liga)
- Strengths: Directness, relentless dribbling, high volume of progressive actions
- Tactical fit: Operates wide but cuts inside to create chances; main outlet for transition attacks
- Stats highlight: Consistently among La Liga’s top creators for xAG and shot-creating actions
- Visual: Line graph: xAG per 90 trend over three seasons
Eberechi Eze (Crystal Palace, Premier League)
- Strengths: Flair, unpredictability, creative risk in a conservative team setup
- Tactical fit: Carries the creative burden for Palace; often beats multiple defenders before passing
- Stats highlight: Outperforms most EPL midfielders for progressive actions per 90
- Visual: Bar chart: Eze’s progressive carries vs. other EPL AMs
Bukayo Saka (Arsenal, Premier League)
- Strengths: Consistent delivery, ability to create from wide and half-spaces
- Tactical fit: Integral to Arteta’s system; high frequency of passes into penalty area
- Stats highlight: Top 5 in EPL for xAG and key passes among wide players
- Visual: Radar chart: Saka vs. other EPL wingers in key metrics
Section 4: League & Positional Context
- Bundesliga: More open play, favoring risk-taking creators—Wirtz and Musiala stand out.
- Premier League: Physical and fast-paced, but Saka and Eze buck the trend with high risk-taking.
- La Liga: Traditionally technical, Vinícius Júnior’s directness is rare and devastating.
- Serie A & Ligue 1: Fewer high-risk creators in these roles (Kvaratskhelia, Dembélé are exceptions).
Graph:
League-wide box plot: Distribution of progressive passes/90 by position (AM, winger, CM, FB, CB) for 2023/24.
Section 5: The Value of Creative Risk
While these players see their pass completion rates dip into the 70s, their actions are high-leverage—directly contributing to goals and big chances. Teams that cultivate such bravery often reap the rewards, even if it means accepting more turnovers in dangerous areas.
Case Example: Key Match Impact
- Wirtz’s assist vs Bayern (2023/24): A line-breaking through ball dissecting three defenders—low probability, huge payoff.
- Vinícius vs Barcelona (2023/24): Dribble and cutback, creating an xG of 0.35 from a tight angle.
- Saka vs Liverpool (2023/24): Pass into penalty area, leading to a game-winning goal.
Conclusion
Creative risk is the hallmark of elite attacking midfielders and wingers. While safe passes inflate completion rates, it’s the daring, progressive actions that separate the game’s true artists. As analytics continue to evolve, clubs and fans should embrace—and measure—bravery on the ball. The numbers don’t lie: Wirtz, Musiala, Vinícius, Eze, and Saka are Europe’s bravest creators, and the football world is richer for it.
Appendix: Methodology & Data Sources
- Stats from FBref, StatsBomb, and league official data.
- Players filtered for AM/Winger roles, minimum 1,500 league minutes per season.
- All stats as per 90 minutes for comparability.
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