Assists are generally a good indicator of a player’s creativity and effectiveness in the final third.
The direct contribution to the goal, whether it be goals or assists, has never been more important than it is today.
There have been numerous discussions about who is the greatest goalscorer of all time. Perhaps we should pay the same attention to the best playmakers, sometimes the scorer does not do most of the work who can only send the ball into the net.
So the importance of letting his teammates score cannot be understated. Without further ado, let’s take a look at five players who have provided the most assists in men’s international football.
#5 Kevin De Bruyne (Belgium) – 39 assists
Kevin De Bruyne is arguably one of the best midfielders of the modern era.
The Manchester City player has an unrealistic vision and is often seen making passes that split the defense which many of his peers don’t even imagine.
De Bruyne currently holds the record for the most assists in a single Premier League season, with no fewer than 20 assists in the 2019-20 season.
He has also been fantastic for Belgium on the international stage. In 85 matches with the Belgian Red Devils, De Bruyne provided 39 assists.
#4 Mesut Ozil (Germany) – 40 assists
Before his international career shrouded in controversy and ended unofficially, Mesut Ozil had established himself as one of the greatest playmakers in German football history.
Ozil is one of the greatest passers-by of the modern era, and his understated elegance has made football seem effortless. In 92 appearances for Germany during his international career, Ozil provided 40 assists.
#3 Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) – 41 assists
Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the greatest footballers of all time. He is also the highest scorer of all time, scoring 807 times for club and national team during his career. The Portugal international is now 37 years old, but he still performs well at the global level.
Ronaldo has been the light of Portugal for the past 15 years. He is the top scorer in men’s international football with 115 goals to his name. When you combine the number of his assists and his impressive scoring record, you can see the impact he had on his national team.
So far, Ronaldo has provided 41 assists for Portugal.
#2 Lionel Messi (Argentina) – 47 assists
Lionel Messi is arguably the greatest footballer of all time. He has won the Ballon d’Or seven times and it has been the pleasure and privilege of watching him work his magic on the football field for the past two decades.
Messi’s international career was a story almost unheard of until last summer when he single-handedly led the Albiceleste side to the 2021 Copa America title. The 34-year-old is the top scorer in men’s international football in South America.
He scored 81 goals and provided 47 assists to Argentina during his international career.
#1 Neymar Jr (Brazil) – 51 assists
The jury decides whether Neymar Jr has truly fulfilled his potential. His injury issues have forced him to sit out longer than he would have liked over the past two seasons.
But there is no denying the fact that he is one of the most innately gifted footballers of all time. Neymar Jr is incredibly smart and uses his superior technical ability to overcome defenses and create chances for his team in the final third.
He has been Brazil’s most important striker over the past decade and provided 51 assists for the Seleção during his international career. The Paris Saint-Germain striker also scored 71 goals for Brazil.
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