The Nantes striker is one of a host of foreign imports impressing in le Championnat - the League of Talents
When the season began, the last thing that Emiliano Sala would have been thinking of was comparisons with Barcelona star Lionel Messi.
Beyond being Argentine, footballers and forwards, there is little the pair appear to have in common. Whereas the five-time Ballon d’Or winner is known for his grace and technical ease, the 6 foot 2" Sala can look ungainly and was not even in the plans of previous boss Miguel Cardoso until he hit a golden seam of form.