The Champions League is the pinnacle of European football and players from Barcelona, Manchester United and Real Madrid all make it into the top 10 assisters in the competition.
Scoring goals is said to be the hardest thing to do in football, but the creative geniuses out there also deserve some praise. This list in particular is stacked with world-class talent.
We’ve collected a list of the top 10 players with the most assists in Champions League history. Note: both Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Cesc Fabregas have provided 26 assists, but miss out due to an inferior assist per 90 ratio.
10. Luis Suarez – 26 assists
There was rarely a dull moment with the Uruguayan forward around and while he is best known for his goalscoring prowess, his creative numbers are also superb.
Three of his assists in the competition came in the 2014-15 season when Barcelona went on to win the Champions League. Arguably the finest striker of his general, Suarez was one of a kind.
9. Thomas Muller – 28 assists
The German forward is the epitome of consistency. Still going strong after 15 seasons with Bayern Munich, Muller has 28 assists to show for his stellar European campaign.
Perhaps his most memorable Champions League performance was when he starred in Bayern’s 8-2 demolition of Barcelona. Muller himself chipped in with three goal contributions on that famous night.
Describe this UCL classic in one word…@FCBayernEN | #UCL pic.twitter.com/UerRdylYCB
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) August 28, 2020
=7. Andres Iniesta – 29 assists
The Spanish playmaker won all four of the Champions League finals he starred in. Iniesta defined a generation of Spanish football and is arguably the best midfielder of all time.
The diminutive wizard was capable of dribbling around an entire team or killing you with a single pass. One of his last assists in the competition came in the 2014-15 final against Juventus to set up Ivan Rakitic for the opening goal.
=7. Karim Benzema – 29 assists
The French forward has aged like a fine wine and is only getting better in his thirties. Benzema was often regarded as the third wheel behind Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale, but his impact cannot be underestimated.
He finally received the plaudits he deserved after his heroics in Real Madrid’s 2022-23 triumph. Now a Ballon d’Or winner, Benzema has cemented his place in the competition’s history.
6. Xavi Hernandez – 30 assists
The Spanish maestro was the heartbeat of Barcelona for almost two decades and he is now bossing it as manager.
READ: 10 Xavi quotes to explain his football philosophy: ‘Combine, pass, play’
5. Ryan Giggs – 30 assists
The Welsh wizard had a career at Old Trafford which spanned from 1990-2014. Giggs expertly adapted his game over the years, but in his prime, he was like lightning in a bottle.
A two-time Champions League winner with Manchester United, Giggs regularly produced the goods for United in Europe.
4. Neymar – 33 assists
Neymar has had some truly remarkable individual campaigns in the Champions League. He played a pivotal role in Barcelona’s 2015 triumph and he was PSG’s best player in 2020 when they made the final.
The Brazilian plays with a samba flair that is a joy to watch each time he steps onto a football pitch. Considering he is the youngest player on this list, 33 assists is some going by the 31-year-old.
3. Angel Di Maria – 38 assists
Like Neymar, Di Maria only got his hands on the Champions League trophy once, but he deserves a special place in the history of this competition.
The Argentine winger was named as the UEFA Man of the Match in Real Madrid’s 2014 Champions League final triumph against Atletico Madrid. His left foot should be considered a lethal weapon.
2. Lionel Messi – 40 assists
Perhaps the best creator of all time, Messi will have to settle for second place on this list for now. His Champions League CV is almost unparalleled with 129 goals and 40 assists to his name.
His performance against Manchester United in the 2011 final is still regarded by many as the greatest Champions League final performance of all time. He’ll surely be eyeing up the number one spot on the list soon.
Lionel Messi VS Manchester United 2011 UCL final, one of the greatest UCL final performances of all time. The day Messi became Manchester United’s owner. pic.twitter.com/ENHUxmKFuX
— FCB Kevin 🇪🇸 (@FCBKevin155) April 10, 2023
1. Cristiano Ronaldo – 42 assists
Who else but CR7? While Ronaldo is best known for his goalscoring prowess, his creative numbers are also the best in the business.
With the most goals, assists and five medals to his name, Ronaldo truly is the king of the Champions League.
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