In football, besides the excellent strikers with the ability to score miraculous goals, the top all-time assists are the ones behind the great victories, creating unmissable opportunities. They are the skillful “conductors”, always knowing how to regulate the match and inspire their teammates. So who are they, the ones who have the ability to change the game with just a delicate pass? Let’s Bestsoccertips.com find out about the top assist players of all time, who have left a deep mark in football history.
10 top assist all time football
10. Cesc Fabregas – 230 (0.28 assists/match)
At the peak of his career, Cesc Fabregas became one of the best midfielders in the world, especially famous for his ability to coordinate the ball and make classy passes. He was the one who helped the teams he played for, such as Arsenal and Chelsea, attack coherently and creatively. Fabregas has been named in the Premier League Team of the Year twice, a testament to his immense talent and influence on the pitch.
However, time has passed and at the age of 36, Fabregas is now entering the final years of his career. He decided to join the Cosmos in Italy’s Serie B, where he continued to play with great form and experience, before officially ending his illustrious career.
9. Dusan Tadic – 234 (0.32 assists/game)
The fact that Dusan Tadic is on this list instead of legends like Xavi or Iniesta may surprise many people. However, if you look at it comprehensively and watch Tadic play, fans will understand why he has 234 assists in his career. Tadic is not only an intelligent player but also possesses excellent tactical vision. He has a very high level of ability to identify space, timing and team-mates, which helps him always find sharp and accurate passes. That is why he is always in good positions to assist his teammates to score.
Dusan Tadic, at the age of 34, has shown that success does not only come from speed or individual technique but also from the ability to control the tempo of the game and create opportunities for his teammates. He always knows how to observe and make the right decisions about timing and position, which helps him “set the table” for the strikers many times. It is the intelligence in his playing style and the accuracy in his passing that are the outstanding qualities that help Tadic maintain his top form and become one of the best playmakers in European football today.
8. Cristiano Ronaldo – 236 (0.20 assists/match)
Despite being labelled as “selfish” by many throughout his career, Cristiano Ronaldo has created countless opportunities for his teammates. On average, Ronaldo has at least one successful assist every 5 matches, which shows that he not only focuses on scoring goals but also always tries to help his teammates score. His smart and accurate passes have demonstrated his ability to observe the game and participate in the team’s play, overcoming the “selfish” label that many people have placed on him.
Since moving to Al Nassr at the beginning of the year, Ronaldo has quickly adapted and made great contributions to this team. He has managed to score 15 goals and provide 2 assists in the last matches, showing that he still maintains his form and efficiency despite turning 39 years old. This statistic is expected to improve in the coming time, as Al Nassr is investing heavily in bringing in new stars in this summer transfer window, helping Ronaldo have more quality teammates to create more opportunities.
7. Mesut Ozil – 240 (0.35 assists/match)
Assists are what fans remember most about midfielder Mesut Ozil. With his excellent observation skills and tactical vision, Ozil has established himself as one of the greatest passers in football history. Throughout his career, Ozil has been the “Assist King” in La Liga for 3 consecutive seasons, helping his teammates at Real Madrid easily score goals thanks to his delicate and accurate passes. Notably, when he moved to play in the Premier League with Arsenal, Ozil continued to maintain his impressive form, and the 2015/2016 season was his peak when he recorded 19 assists, an extremely impressive number in a fiercely competitive tournament like the Premier League.
Unfortunately, despite being very young for a player, Ozil decided to retire at the age of 34. This decision has left many people regretful because Ozil still has a lot of potential to develop, especially when he still maintains the ability to create great assists. Although he has left the field, the legacy that Ozil left in the hearts of football fans remains intact, with classy passes that make the whole world admire.
6. Thomas Muller – 244 (0.31 assists/match)
Thomas Müller is a complete striker, outstanding not only in his ability to score goals but also in his sophistication in creating opportunities for his teammates. He always knows how to play an important role in every attack, from scoring goals to sharp assists. In particular, Müller currently holds the record for the number of assists in the Bundesliga with 160 times, an impressive achievement reflecting his intelligence and excellent ability to observe the game.
The 2019-2020 season was a memorable milestone in Müller’s career when he had 21 assists, making him the player with the most successful “assists” in a season in the top 5 European leagues. This achievement not only affirmed Müller’s influence in Bayern Munich’s attacking style but also proved that he is one of the best strikers in coordinating and assisting teammates to score goals. With these contributions, Müller is not only a formidable striker but also a true “conductor” on the pitch.
5. Luis Suarez – 246 (0.27 assists/match)
Luis Suárez is one of the most complete strikers of his generation, and in any team he plays for, he makes an important contribution to the attack. With his excellent scoring ability, Suárez is a great threat to any defense. However, what makes him special is his ability to get involved in attacking play and create chances for his teammates. Even when he is not scoring, Suárez always knows how to be a sharp provider of assists, contributing to the overall success of the team.
The 2015-2016 season was one of the peak times of Suárez’s career. He scored 59 goals and had 22 assists, an incredible achievement not only for a striker but for any player. That season, Suárez continued to assert his position in the Barcelona squad, helping the team maintain its formidable attacking power. Previously, in 2015, he helped Barcelona win the treble, winning La Liga, the Copa del Rey and the Champions League, playing a key role in those historic achievements. Suárez’s contributions have helped Barca become a powerful force both domestically and in Europe, and his name is always associated with brilliant successes in his career.
4. Neymar – 248 (0.35 assists/game)
Just above Luis Suárez in the list of excellent strikers is his former teammate Neymar, a player who stands out with his magical feet and excellent dribbling ability. Neymar is not only an excellent goalscorer, but he also knows how to juggle with the ball, creating unexpected and unpredictable moves. With his talent, Neymar is always the one who makes the difference, helping his teammates around him benefit from exemplary assists and delicate moves.
Throughout his career, Neymar has had countless impressive assists, making a name for himself as a player who can coordinate and help teammates score goals. Last season, despite suffering from injuries and only playing 20 Ligue 1 games, Neymar still managed to make his mark with 11 assists for PSG. This achievement shows that Neymar’s ability to create chances has not diminished, despite his limited playing time. His precise passing, combined with his creativity in every situation, still helps Neymar maintain an important role in the team’s attacking play, proving that he is one of the best players in the world at connecting and benefiting the whole team.
3. Angel Di Maria – 260 (0.31 assists/game)
Angel Di Maria is one of the special players who has had the opportunity to play alongside the world’s top strikers such as Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Zlatan Ibrahimović. Although each has a different playing style, Di Maria always knows how to promote the sophistication in his playing style to benefit his teammates. With sharp passing ability and delicate assists, Di Maria is not only an excellent winger but also a “conductor” in coordinating the attack. He always creates favorable opportunities for the strikers, helping them easily score.
On average, Di Maria has 0.31 assists per game, an impressive number, reflecting the stability and efficiency in his playing style. Di Maria’s precise and decisive passing helps strikers like Messi, Ronaldo and Ibrahimović shine, not only enhancing the team’s attacking output but also making Di Maria one of the most important players in every squad he plays for. Whether at Real Madrid, Manchester United or PSG, Di Maria always knows how to leave a strong mark with his classy assists.
2. Kevin De Bruyne – 281 (0.41 assists/game)
Kevin De Bruyne is the youngest player on the list of players with the most successful assists, and despite having played the least amount of games out of all the names in this Top 10, he still ranks second with 281 assists. With an average of 0.41 assists per game, De Bruyne is not only one of the best creative midfielders in the world but also the most prolific passer on this list. His ability to dictate the game, along with his precise and intelligent passing, has made him one of the most important players in Manchester City’s style of play.
Last season, De Bruyne’s top form directly contributed to Man City’s historic success as the team won the treble of Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League. His decisive assists helped Pep Guardiola’s side to implement their all-out attacking style of play, while also providing vital opportunities for his teammates to score. De Bruyne is not only the “heart” of Man City’s midfield, but he has also affirmed his position as one of the best passers in football history.
1. Lionel Messi – 357 (0.35 assists/game)
Lionel Messi is the only player in the 21st century to have more than 300 assists, a feat that not only reflects his brilliance but also demonstrates the immense influence Messi has had on every team he has played for. With his ability to observe the game and read situations extremely delicately, Messi not only scores goals but also creates countless opportunities for his teammates. His creativity and accuracy in every pass has made him one of the greatest players in football history.
Despite being 36 years old, Messi still maintains a high level of performance every time he is put on the field. His move to Inter Miami since this summer has not diminished his influence. On the contrary, Messi is expected to continue to increase his number of assists, with the hope that his creativity and experience will help his new team achieve more success. Surely, with Messi on the field, every move becomes special, and he will continue to be one of the important players in world football.
Conclusion
Thus, the top assist all time are not simply passers, but people who shape the match, making a difference with their tactical thinking ability and great creativity. They have proven that in football, sometimes impressive moments do not come from goals, but from breakthrough passes, helping the team reach success. It is these silent but extremely important contributions that have helped them become legends, leaving a deep mark in the hearts of fans and the history of the king sport.
See more: Serie A top goal scorer: Top 8 Strikers
