All-time Assist Kings of Champions League
There is usually a huge focus on goals, but the creation of chances is almost as important as their conversion. In this article, we delve into the history books and picked out the 22 footballers with the most assists in the history of this prestigious competition.
The Champions League is widely regarded as the most important club competition in world football. This is the trophy that players and managers desire above all others, and success in this tournament elevates both individuals and teams to another level.
19= Dani Alves (23)
Dani Alves was a right-back, but that does not tell the full story of his career. The Brazilian may have been a defender on paper, but he was more like a playmaker in terms of his contributions to Barcelona between 2008 and 2016.
Alves’ first taste of the tournament came with Sevilla, but it was at the Camp Nou where he made his name. He struck up a fantastic partnership with Lionel Messi down Barca’s right flank, with Alves’ vision, technical ability and creative potential setting him apart from most other full-backs. He also played for Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain in the competition.
19= Raheem Sterling (23)
Raheem Sterling is currently plying his trade for Arsenal, but his time at the highest level appears to be coming to an end. The England international has many cherished moments to look back on, though, and he will justifiably be proud of his tally of 23 assists in Europe’s premier tournament.
His first came for Liverpool and his last was for Chelsea, but the other 21 came while wearing a Manchester City shirt. Pep Guardiola made Sterling into a more effective forward and he was one of the best in Europe at his peak.
19= Kaka (23)
Kaka provided arguably the greatest assist in the history of the tournament when his magnificent through-ball set up Hernan Crespo in the 2005 final. That goal put AC Milan 3-0 up against Liverpool, but an astonishing second-half comeback saw the Reds win the trophy on penalties.
Kaka also played for Real Madrid in this competition, but he remains best associated with Milan. At one time the Brazilian was the best player in the world, and as well as scoring plenty of goals he was a master at setting them up.
19= Joshua Kimmich (23)
Unlike some of the players on this list, Joshua Kimmich is still playing. The 30-year-old still has time to add to his tally of assists, which currently stands at 23. A one-time winner with Bayern Munich, Kimmich has been deployed at right-back and in central midfield.
He has shown himself to be capable of creating opportunities for team-mates in either role. Kimmich provided four assists in 2019/20, when Bayern lifted the trophy for a sixth time thanks to a victory over Paris Saint-Germain in the final.
15= Mesut Ozil (24)
A player who divided opinion throughout his career, Mesut Ozil’s talent was never in doubt. A gloriously inventive player with a wand of a left foot, Ozil first made his name on the European stage with Schalke and Werder Bremen, before a high-profile move to Real Madrid in 2010.
Ozil registered 13 assists in this tournament while wearing Madrid’s famous jersey. Six more followed at Arsenal, who were often outside Europe’s leading competition during the German’s time at the club.
15= Marcelo (24)
Roberto Carlos is the most celebrated Brazilian left-back in Real Madrid’s history, but Marcelo won this tournament twice more than his compatriot. He also provided more assists in the competition, finishing up with 24 prior to his exit in 2022.
Marcelo made a total of 546 appearances for Madrid. Throughout his time at the club, he was criticised by some for a perceived lack of defensive alertness, but Marcelo was phenomenal going forward. Few full-backs in history have been more creative than the Madrid legend.
15= Kylian Mbappe (24)
Kylian Mbappe’s move to Real Madrid in 2024 was inspired by a childhood dream to play for the club and a burning desire to be crowned a European champion. Still only 26, the Frenchman will be determined to win this tournament several times before he hangs up his boots.
Mbappe is a goalscorer first and foremost, but only 14 players in the history of this event have provided more assists. The former Paris Saint-Germain and Monaco man is not a selfish striker, as evidenced by his position on this list.
15= Vinicius Junior (24)
Vinicius Junior had a tendency to frustrate Real Madrid fans and team-mates alike in the early part of his career at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu, but over the last few years he has become one of the most effective attackers on the planet.
Indeed, Vinicius’ end product has improved immensely. He usually makes the right decision when in the final third and is now much more willing to pass when a team-mate is in a better position. Vinicius has 24 assists to his name so far.
14. Franck Ribery (25)
Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben were such a destructive wing duo for Bayern Munich that they were nicknamed ‘Robbery’. With their dribbling skills, speed on the counter-attack and ruthless end product, Ribery and Robben were hugely influential during their time together at Bayern.
Robben scored more goals in Europe, but Ribery was the more prolific assister. He laid on 25 goals for his colleagues in total, including a couple in the triumphant campaign of 2012/13, when Bayern beat Borussia Dortmund in the final.
11= Luis Suarez (26)
Luis Suarez formed one-third of perhaps the greatest front three in this tournament’s history. The Uruguay international was flanked by Neymar and Lionel Messi at Barcelona between 2014 and 2017, with Suarez continuing his career at the Camp Nou for four years after that.
Suarez was renowned for his goalscoring ability, but he offered plenty more to the Barcelona attack, racking up 26 assists in total. He also played for Ajax and Atlético Madrid – but not Liverpool – in this competition.
11= Cesc Fabregas (26)
Cesc Fabregas spent much of his youth in the Barcelona academy, but he made his first steps in the professional game at Arsenal following a move to London at the age of 16. Fabregas played 61 times for the Gunners in this competition before returning to Barcelona in 2012.
He provided four assists for the Catalans in Europe, but after three years he was on his way back to England to join Chelsea. Fabregas took his assist tally in Europe’s main tournament to 26 during his time at Stamford Bridge.
11= Zlatan Ibrahimovic (26)
An iconic figure who played for some of the most famous clubs in Europe, Zlatan Ibrahimovic appeared in this competition for Ajax, Juventus, Inter, AC Milan, Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester United. Yet he never got his hands on the famous trophy.
Still, Ibrahimovic was a remarkable centre-forward who scored plenty of goals for the various teams he represented. He was no stranger to setting up strikes for others either, with 26 assists in Europe’s foremost tournament.
8= Andres Iniesta (29)
The Barcelona of 2008 to 2012 are regarded by many as the best team this tournament has ever seen. Pep Guardiola was the manager of a squad which contained multiple academy graduates, including Lionel Messi, Xavi Hernandez, Carles Puyol, Gerard Pique and Sergio Busquets.
Iniesta was another alumnus of the Masia youth system. A wonderfully smart and technical footballer, the Spain international racked up 29 assists during his time in the Barcelona first team, which ran from 2002 to 2018.
8= Kevin De Bruyne (29)
Kevin De Bruyne made his debut in this tournament in 2011, when he was still playing in Belgium with Genk. He appeared three times for Chelsea after an ill-fated switch to Stamford Bridge, but it was only after his move to Manchester City in 2015 that De Bruyne became one of Europe’s most feared attacking midfielders.
The Belgium international could be on his way out of the Etihad Stadium this summer, so he may miss out on reaching 30 assists in Europe’s No.1 tournament. Still, De Bruyne has proved himself to be an excellent creator down the years.
8= Karim Benzema (29)
Karim Benzema broke through at Lyon and helped the French side reach the knockout phase of this tournament in each of his five campaigns in the first team. His exploits at Lyon earned him a transfer to Real Madrid in 2009.
The striker went on to make 648 appearances for the Spanish giants, putting him fifth in their all-time rankings. As well as being an important goalscorer, Benzema provided 29 assists for Lyon and Madrid in the biggest continental competition of all.
6= Thomas Muller (30)
A true Bayern Munich legend, Thomas Muller has spent his entire career with his boyhood club. He has been crowned a European champion twice (2013 and 2020) and finished as runner-up with the Bavarians on another two occasions (2010 and 2012).
Muller’s best attribute is his ability to find space in congested areas of the pitch. That has helped him to contribute hundreds of goals to the Bayern cause, and he has also managed to hit 30 assists in Europe.
6= Xavi Hernandez (30)
Xavi Hernandez broke into the Barcelona first team in 1998, and he remained a key player for the club until his eventual departure in 2015. In that time Barca were crowned kings of the continent on four occasions, with Xavi particularly integral to their success in 2009 and 2011.
A metronomic passer who set the tempo of his team’s play, Xavi laid on an abundance of opportunities for Barcelona’s attackers. His 30 assists include a fine cross from which Lionel Messi scored with a header in the 2009 final against Manchester United.
5. Ryan Giggs (31)
A skilful, tricky winger in the first part of his career, Ryan Giggs became a cerebral central midfielder as he gradually lost his pace. In both positions he was one of Manchester United’s most important players, with Giggs winning Europe’s principal tournament in 1999 and 2008.
The Welshman provided a total of 31 assists in this competition for United, the only club he ever played for. That means he was a better creator than a scorer, having managed 29 goals down the years.
4. Neymar (33)
Looking back now, it feels like Neymar did not really fulfil his potential in Europe. But when he was at the top of his game, the Brazilian was undoubtedly one of the best players in the world. He showed that in 2014/15, when Neymar helped Barcelona win this competition.
In terms of European assists, his best season was 2016/17 when Neymar laid on eight goals for team-mates. He then moved to Paris Saint-Germain, for whom he provided 15 assists on the continent.
3. Lionel Messi (40)
To many Lionel Messi is the greatest player of all time, chiefly because of his range of talents. At his prime the Argentinian was not just an elite goalscorer; he was also a sublime playmaker who was capable of running games and laying on opportunities for others.
Messi won this competition four times, with Barcelona triumphing in 2006, 2009, 2011 and 2015. Thirty-six of his assists came for the Blaugrana, with the remainder following in a two-year spell at Paris Saint-Germain.
2. Angel Di Maria (41)
At the ripe old age of 37, Angel Di Maria is still going strong in European competition. He is back where he started, rejoining Benfica in 2023 following a first spell at the club between 2007 and 2010.
Di Maria starred as Real Madrid won this trophy in 2014, but he made more continental appearances for Paris Saint-Germain than the Blancos, while he also had a brief stint at Juventus. Whether deployed centrally or out wide, Di Maria’s guile was an asset for all his employers.
1. Cristiano Ronaldo (42)
Cristiano Ronaldo won this tournament five times in total – one with Manchester United and four with Real Madrid. He tops the appearance chart with 183 and has scored more goals than anyone else in the competition’s history, having made the net bulge on 140 occasions.
Additionally, Ronaldo ranks first in the all-time assist table. Often criticised for his supposed selfishness, Ronaldo would doubtless point to his 42 assists as proof to the contrary. No one has set up more goals than the legendary Portuguese.
Please note that the stats might have changed since the writing/publication of the article.
Last updated: 16.04.25
