Mario Balotelli has had a fine start to his career with Nice, and his goal statistics prove he has been more effective than Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo so far this season.
Tired of reading? Click through the gallery to see Europe's most effective goalscorers in 2016/17 so far.
The Italian has scored eight goals in as many Ligue 1 games this season, netting at a rate of one goal every 77 minutes.
As a consequence, he currently sits in third spot in the most effective goalscorers ranking, as pointed out by AS.
Only Radamel Falcao, with one goal every 67 minutes, and Edinson Cavani, with a strike every 73 minutes, have been more effective than Balotelli so far.
African Footballer of the Year Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang follows with a goal every 78 minutes, ahead of Messi, who has netted a goal every 85 minutes.
Napoli's Dries Mertens, who scored back-to-back hat-tricks in his past two Serie A games, sits in sixth spot, scoring a goal every 92 minutes, while Ronaldo only appears in seventh spot, with a strike every 94 minutes.
FC Barcelona striker Luis Suarez and Freiburg forward Nils Petersen have both netted at a rate of a goal every 98 minutes, while Sergio Aguero completes the top 10, having scored a goal every 101 minutes before his recent suspension.
Read: Balotelli Among Highest Paid Ligue 1 Stars
Note: All figures are based on league performances up to and including 19 December 2016.
Do you think Balotelli can reach Messi's and Ronaldo's overall goalscoring levels? Have your say in the comments section below.
