The Premier League total of 67 is powered by impressive scoring returns for players whose quality is clear but sit below the elite tier of Messi and co.

They include the likes of Arsenal‘s Kai Havertz (three for Germany), Crystal Palace‘s Ismaila Sarr (four for Senegal), Liverpool‘s Cody Gakpo (three for Netherlands), Manchester United‘s Matheus Cunha (three for Brazil), Newcastle‘s Yoane Wissa (three for DR Congo), Sunderland‘s Brian Brobbey (three for Netherlands).

In their most recent transfers, those six players cost a combined total of around £260m, or an average of just under £45m.

A total of 17 Premier League players have scored twice or more in the tournament.

No other division possesses an array of clubs, whether title challengers or occupying lower mid-table, which can spend that kind of money on reliable international-quality goal scorers.

La Liga still possesses some of the world’s best players, and England’s Jude Bellingham, Brazil’s Vinicius Jr. and Spain’s Mikel Oyarzabal have each scored four.

But there is a big drop off in output beyond that, with only three other La Liga players – Ivory Coast’s Nicolas Pepe, Morocco’s Azzedine Ounhai, and Switzerland’s Ruben Vargas – scoring more than once.

Only Kane, Germany’s Deniz Undav, Switzerland’s Johan Manzambi, and USA’s Malik Tillman have scored more than once and play in the Bundesliga.

The total for Serie A has been heavily dented by Italy’s failure to qualify for the tournament for a third successive edition.