mbulelo smpofuTHE glory boys of football are those players who regularly score lots of goals.
However, they couldn’t do so without their teammates who create and lay on the opportunities for them.
This article is dedicated to those players who provide the assists, and we highlight the 10 players who have provided the most assists in the history of the beautiful game (or since reliable records began).
No.10 – Cesc Fabregas – 253 Assists
Cesc Fabregas is probably remembered best by most British football fans for the eight years he spent at Highbury playing in a central midfield role for Arsenal. At the age of 16, he joined the Gunners’ youth academy in September 2003. Shortly afterwards, on the 28th of October, Fabregas made his debut first-team appearance in a League Cup tie against Rotherham. At the time, he became the youngest-ever first-team player when he was just 16 years and 177 days old.
Fabregas went on to become the youngest-ever goal scorer for Arsenal, scoring against Wolverhampton Wanderers in a later round of the tournament. His 212 appearances for the Gunners resulted in 36 goals, but it is the 253 assists he made that sealed his reputation as one of the best midfielders of all time, in recognition of which he credits then-manager Arsene Wenger.
No.9 – David Beckham – 256 Assists
David Beckham is mostly remembered by us Brits as being a Manchester United player. It’s not surprising as that’s where he began his professional career in 1992, until, 11 years later, he moved on to Real Madrid. Beckham made a name for himself in 1996 when, at 21 years of age, he scored a spectacular goal against Wimbledon from the halfway line.
It showed his awareness, his vision, and his ability to place a football pretty much where he wanted. It was a combination of these skills that allowed him to accumulate a total of 114 goals (many from set pieces) and 256 assists throughout his senior career.
No.8 – Ryan Giggs – 258 Assists
Ryan Giggs began his youth career with Manchester City at their School of Excellence in 1985. They could not have fully appreciated his potential because, in 1987, Alex Ferguson approached the then 14-year-old Giggs and offered him a 2-year associate schoolboy forms contract. Three years later, the then 17-year-old signed a professional contract. The rest is history.
Giggs went on to make 963 appearances for the Red Devils, scoring 168 goals for club and country (Wales). As a midfield winger, he was one of the best in the world. Giggs was renowned for his speed and dribbling skills and could play on either flank. In later years he took on more of a playmaker role.
Throughout his career as a winger and playmaker, and in addition to the 168 goals he scored, Giggs also made an impressive 258 assists.
No.7 – Mesut Ozil – 262 Assists
German-born midfielder Mesut Ozil began his professional career in the German Bundesliga, first playing for Schalke in 2005, then Werder Bremen in 2008. His talent as an attacking midfielder was immediately spotted, and in 2006 at the age of 17, he was called up for the German U17s national team.
He played for them at every level, joining the senior squad in 2009. His sterling performance in the 2010 World Cup alerted keen interest from many of Europe’s big clubs, and that same year, he was signed by Real Madrid. He made 105 appearances for Los Blancos, scoring 19 goals, before being signed by Arsenal in 2013, where he made 184 appearances, scoring 88 goals.
But as a midfield playmaker with great skill and vision, he was best known for creating chances for others, and across his 18-year professional career, he made 262 assists.
No.6 – Cristiano Ronaldo – 276 Assists
A player who needs little introduction, Cristiano Ronaldo has been breaking football records almost from the word go. He holds the current record as the highest goal scorer in the world, and across his career, has collected 5 Ballon d’Or awards.
Classed as a forward, he is equally at home up front scoring goals, instigating moves and creating goal opportunities from midfield, Ronaldo is unquestionably one of the greatest players the world has ever seen. He is also a free-kick specialist.
Ronaldo’s career really took off when he was signed by Manchester United in 2003. He played for them for six years making 346 appearances and scoring 145 goals (including his second spell at Old Trafford in 2021/22).
He cemented his position as one of the greatest players of all time while at Real Madrid, where, from 2009 to 2018, he made 438 appearances and became the club’s top goal scorer with 451 goals.
He also captained the Portuguese national team, for whom he played on 206 occasions from the U15s to the seniors, scoring 128 goals. His assists often go overlooked, which they shouldn’t. He has recorded 275, the 6th highest on our list.
No.5 – Angel Di Maria – 278 Assists
His name may not be quite so familiar to some football fans, as he only spent one year of his professional career in the UK with Manchester United. But this Argentinian-born attacking midfield wide man has notched up 278 assists to date.
He has played for some top European clubs, including Juventus, Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain and Benfica (where he is now playing out his second term). He is also a stalwart of the Argentinian nation team’s midfield and has amassed 154 caps in all, scoring 37 goals. But his real value is the assists he has made – 40 alone in Champions League games, where he is rated 4th best attacking wide midfielder behind Messi, Bale and Neymar.
No.4 – Kevin De Bruyne – 286 Assists
It’s no surprise that Manchester City’s Kevin De Bruyne’s name is high up on the list of players with the most assists. The Belgian-born midfielder is one of the best players in the world still playing today. He is an inspirational player for both the Citizens and the Belgium national men’s team, which he captains.
Regarded as being a complete footballer with superb tactical awareness, his ability to make accurate, killer passes, his phenomenal work rate and his stamina have enabled him to execute 286 assists.
No.3 – Luis Suarez – 298 Assists
For many, Luis Suarez coming in third place in our list of players with the most assists could be a surprise. He is firstly known as a prolific striker with well over 500 career goals to his credit.
He is infamously known for biting other players. That aside, Uruguayan-born Suarez has graced the football world with his striking abilities, which he displayed to fullest effect at some of the world’s best football clubs, including Ajax, Liverpool, Barcelona, and Atletico Madrid.
He has also recorded 298 assists, which for an out-and-out striker, is quite amazing. He is still playing, of course, at Inter Miami, where he has reunited with one of his former teammates, Lionel Messi.
No.2 – Thomas Muller – 303 Assists
Thomas Muller is a Bayern Munich man through and through. Split him in half like a stick of rock, and you’ll probably see the words “FC Bayern München – Die Roten” printed through his inner soul. He joined the youth system at Bayern in 2000 at the age of 11 and has been there ever since.
He made his full first-team debut in August 2008 and hasn’t looked back. Muller also made his team debut for the German U16s in 2004 and has played at every level up to senior. As a creative attacking midfielder, he is rated as one of the Bundesliga’s best. He has scored 210 career goals and made 303 assists.
No.1 – Lionel Messi – 400 Assists
Many pundits believe Lionel Messi to be the greatest player of all time, and with 806 goals and 400 assists to his name, it’s easy to see why. The Argentinian-born forward is nothing short of a football phenomenon. Messi has won eight Ballon d’Or awards (between 2009 and 2023), more than any other player in Ballon d’Or history.
In addition, he’s been awarded six European Golden Shoes (another record) and has been named the best player in the world eight times by FIFA. His career took off at Barcelona, and when he sadly left Camp Nou in tears in 2021, his Barca tally shows he had scored more goals (672), provided the most assists (305) and won more trophies (35) than any other player in the club’s history. He is nothing short of a footballing genius. – thepfsa.co.uk
