Gyokeres has netted 24 goals in 17 Sporting games this season.

Messi had scored 22 goals after the same amount of Barca games in 2011-12.

Spread over the course of the season, Sporting’s Swede is netting a goal every 65 minutes compared to Messi’s one every 72 then.

Their Champions League rates are fairly even with Messi scoring 14 goals in 11 games – to Gyokeres’ five goals in four matches this season.

For Gyokeres to play the 60 games that Messi managed that season, Sporting would have to go all the way in Portugal’s two domestic cups and the Champions League.

If their Champions League form drops, and they finish between ninth and 24th, they would play an additional two games in a play-off round – so that would give him a maximum of 62.

But all that relies on Gyokeres playing every game for Sporting.

Messi missed four games for Barcelona in 2011-12. Barcelona, who played in the Uefa Super Cup and Club World Cup that season too, played in every game possible – except the Champions League final, losing at the last-four stage.

Gyokeres has scored nine goals in six Nations League games for Sweden too – with another four games to come this season.

Messi netted nine goals in nine games for Argentina in 2011-12.