Beyond the Goal Scorers: Recognizing the Most Prolific Assist Providers in Modern Football
Beyond the Goal Scorers: Recognizing the Most Prolific Assist Providers in Modern Football
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| Messi, De Bruyne and Di Maria are in the top three for assists in the 21st century |
The goal scorer often receives all the celebrations, but the person who creates the goal is often remembered for a shorter time. In many cases, the contribution of the player who assists or helps create the goal is the most significant. There was a time when playmakers and strikers were considered separately. However, modern football has blurred that line. That is why the concept of a 'number nine' or striker has become somewhat elusive.
Behind that, the contributions of the two footballers are the highest. Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have been scoring goals and providing assists for almost two decades. They are among the top 10 assist providers in the 21st century, with Messi's position consistently at the top. Let's see who else is on this list.
Cesc Fabregas
230 assists, 0.28 per match
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| Cesc Fabregas(Getty) |
Cesc Fabregas, a midfield maestro, is on this list. The Spanish World Cup winner has played for top clubs like Arsenal and Barcelona. He has left his mark on La Liga and Copa del Rey as a Barcelona player. Although he has shown exceptional skills as an assist provider in the central midfield position, he has also scored many goals. Fabregas ranks number 10 on the list of assistance providers in the 21st century. He has averaged 0.28 assists per match in 830 matches.
Dusan Tadic
234 assists, 0.32 per match
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| Dusan Tadic(Getty) |
The name of Serbian star Dusan Tadic in this list is quite remarkable. He has not played for a big club throughout his career. He has made his mark with clubs like Southampton and Dutch powerhouse Ajax. Even though he hasn't played for top-tier clubs, Tadic has provided amazing assists at the age of 34. In 722 matches, he has averaged 0.32 assists per match, totaling 234 assists.
Cristiano Ronaldo
236 assists, 0.20 per match
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| Cristiano Ronaldo(Getty) |
One of the all-time greatest stars, Cristiano Ronaldo, has shown his brilliance in assists alongside his goal-scoring prowess in this century. However, he is somewhat behind his eternal rival Messi in terms of assist contributions. Ronaldo is also slightly behind in terms of assists per match compared to "CR Seven." Nevertheless, he has pushed himself forward by scoring goals. In his career, he has provided 236 assists in 1,168 matches, averaging 0.20 assists per match.
Mesut Ozil
240 assists, 0.35 per match
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| Mesut Ozil |
Mesut Ozil, one of the best playmakers of his time, has often faced criticism despite his impressive performances. The World Cup winner had higher expectations from himself. However, injuries and controversies have prevented him from reaching his full potential. Nonetheless, he still tops the list of this century's top assist providers. In 692 matches, he has provided 240 assists.
Thomas Muller
244 assists, 0.31 per match
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| Thomas Muller(Getty) |
Thomas Muller has spent almost his entire club career at Bayern Munich. He has also won the World Cup with the German national team. Muller holds the record for the most assists among German footballers, with 33 trophies to his name. In 787 matches, he has registered 244 assists.
Luis Suarez
246 assists, 0.27 per match
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| Luis Suarez |
Luis Suarez has shone in clubs like Liverpool, Barcelona, and Atletico Madrid throughout his career. While his primary role is scoring goals, he has also displayed magic in providing assists. With an average of 0.27 assists per match across 911 matches, Suarez has been a valuable asset.
Neymar
248 assists, 0.35 per match
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| Neymar |
Neymar has also faced criticism. His career hasn't progressed as expected due to wrong decisions and injuries hindering his progress. Nevertheless, Neymar remains one of the top stars of the present time. He is also vocal about his contribution to goals. With an average of 0.35 assists per match in 707 matches, Neymar has provided 248 assists.
Angel Di Maria
260 assists, 0.31 per match
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| Angel Di Maria(Getty) |
Angel Di Maria has played for several top clubs throughout his career. He made his mark in Argentina's national team after a gap of 36 years by winning the World Cup. Di Maria's name is etched in history for his contributions to the top three goals of the century. With an average of 0.31 assists, he has provided 260 assists in a total of 833 matches.
Kevin De Bruyne
281 assists, 0.41 per match
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| Kevin De Bruyne(Getty) |
Although Lionel Messi may have lost the top spot in terms of numbers, Kevin De Bruyne stands out as one of the best playmakers of this century in terms of assists per match. De Bruyne was crowned as the Senior Team's successor in 2008 while at Genk. After four years at this club, he moved to Chelsea in 2012. Despite playing fewer than three matches for this English club, he arrived at Manchester City in 2015. As a City player, he established himself as one of the all-time greats. Alongside his national team responsibilities, De Bruyne has also shone. In total, he has provided 281 assists at an average of 0.41 per match.
Lionel Messi
357 assists, 0.35 per match
Lionel Messi(Getty)
Although Lionel Messi falls behind De Bruyne in terms of assists per match, he still holds the overall record for assists. As a Barcelona player, he has surpassed goals and assists in match after match. Messi has contributed both goals and assists for Argentina, as well as winning titles for his club and national team. His presence in the assist rankings is expected. With an average of 0.35 assists in 1,028 matches, Messi has provided a total of 357 assists.
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