The forward Jöel Monteiro has stood out in statistics among players from 75 leagues.
After losing their undefeated record in LaLiga to Osasuna over the weekend, Barcelona is seeking their first victory in the Champions League this Tuesday against Young Boys at the Estadio Olímpico Lluís Companys.
Although their opponent has had a disappointing start to the season, Barcelona cannot underestimate the challenge they face in the second round of the Champions League. On the opposing side will be the “most effective player in the world,” forward Jöel Monteiro.
Jöel Monteiro of Young Boys was deemed the “most effective player in the world” last season, according to a study by the CIES Football Observatory. The study revealed that the Young Boys striker had the highest shooting accuracy percentage among players in 74 leagues, boasting a 31% rate, three percentage points ahead of England’s Jude Bellingham, a star player for Real Madrid. The survey only included players who played at least 1,000 minutes last season, up until March 2024.
Born in Sion, Switzerland, 25-year-old Jöel Monteiro comes from a family steeped in football. He is the brother of defender Élton Monteiro and cousin of Gelson Fernandes, who represented Switzerland in three World Cups (2010, 2014, and 2018) before retiring.
After having stints at smaller clubs in his home country, including FC Azzurri, FC Conthey, Lausanne-Sport, and Stade-Lausanne, Monteiro joined Young Boys in 2021 and took some time to establish himself. His breakthrough came last season when he scored 12 goals and provided three assists in 43 matches.
His strong performances earned him his first call-up to the Swiss national team. In his debut, Monteiro played 14 minutes on the field as his team suffered a 4-1 loss to Spain during the group stage of the Nations League.
With four goals and one assist in 13 appearances this season, the 1.92-meter tall striker is Young Boys’ hope to silence the Estadio Olímpico Lluís Companys and prevent Barcelona from achieving their first victory in the new Champions League format.