Assisting a goal is just as important as scoring it.
Ask any striker in world football and they'll wax lyrical about the midfield geniuses behind them who setup the goals they score week in week out.
Of course, there are a selection of strikers who have also chipped in with a more than healthy number of assists throughout their careers.
In fact, there are five players considered to be 'out-and-out strikers' who feature in the top 25 assist makers this century, which you can view below.
Some of the statistics on show are mighty impressive and there are no prizes for guessing who is number one...
All data sourced from Transfermarkt.
25. Karim Benzema
Games: 740
Assists: 176
The striker who can do it all. Benzema's ability to assist, as well as score a shed load of goals, are reasons why he'll go down as one of Real Madrid's greatest ever.
24. David Beckham
Games: 581
Assists: 176
That right foot was so deadly. Beckham's best season in terms of assists came in 1999/2000, where he notched 15 in the Premier League alone with Manchester United.
23. Hulk
Games: 601
Assists: 178
Wherever the Brazilian has played during his journeyman career, goals and assists have followed. In the 2015/16 season with Zenit, Hulk registered 19 assists in just 29 league games.
22. Wayne Rooney
Games: 862
Assists: 179
Like Benzema, Rooney is the definition of a 'complete forward'. Rooney's highest total of assists in a Premier League season (13) came in 2007/08.
21. Eden Hazard
Games: 675
Assists: 181
A creative genius. While at Lille during the 2011/12 season, Hazard recorded 18 assists - and 20 goals - in just 38 Ligue 1 games, remarkable stuff.
20. Andres Iniesta
Games: 849
Assists: 182
Iniesta's game was about so much more than goals and assists. That being said, the Barcelona icon's output as a creator was still pretty impressive.
19. Dusan Tadic
Games: 587
Assists: 185
Put some respect on Tadic's name! The Serbian forward notched 15 assists in just 25 games during the 2019/20 Eredivisie season.
18. Dries Mertens
Games: 691
Assists: 188
One of the most underrated players of the modern era. The versatile forward has hit double figures for assists in four different seasons - once with Utrecht, twice with PSV and once with Napoli.
17. Thierry Henry
Games: 716
Assists: 190
Far more than just a serial goal scorer. Henry's tally of 20 assists in the 2002/03 Premier League season is still a division record!
16. Neymar
Games: 501
Assists: 190
The Brazilian averages 0.38 assists per game played, which is the joint-second best ratio on this list. Neymar hit double figures for assists in three different seasons with Barcelona.
15. Arjen Robben
Games: 703
Assists: 193
Robben never had a standout season in terms of assists, but the Dutchman's record is remarkably consistent. Imagine how many he'd have to his name without injuries...
14. Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Games: 861
Assists: 196
Zlatan's assist record is stellar. Five times in his club career, the enigmatic Swede hit double figures, including 15 in 33 games for PSG during the 2013/14 Ligue 1 season.
13. David Silva
Games: 754
Assists: 200
A playmaking genius. Arguably Manchester City's greatest ever player, with the illusive Spaniard reaching double figures for assists in five different seasons in English football.
12. Kevin De Bruyne
Games: 520
Assists: 200
De Bruyne is level with his midfield partner-in-crime, but in far less games. The Belgian's record of 0.38 assists per game is level with Neymar in second place.
11. Andrey Arshavin
Games: 700
Assists: 201
A somewhat misunderstood genius. Arshavin's time at Arsenal was mixed, to say the least, but he was in a league of his own at Zenit, notching 106 assists in 374 games for the Russian club.
10. Steffen Hofmann
Games: 629
Assists: 208
You may be asking; who? Well, Hofmann is far from a household name around the world, but he certainly is one in Vienna. The German midfielder scored 128 goals and assisted 208 in 540 games for Rapid Vienna. Amazingly, 25 assists came in just one Austrian Bundesliga season back in 2007/08.
9. Thomas Muller
Games: 667
Assists: 224
Muller recently equalled the Bundesliga record for most assists in a single season, creating 21 goals in 33 games for Bayern Munich. Not bad, Thomas, not bad.
8. Franck Ribery
Games: 649
Assists: 227
Ribery also notched 21 assists in a single Bundesliga campaign back in 2011/12, with the Frenchman hitting double figures for Bayern in six separate seasons.
7. Xavi
Games: 950
Assists: 230
No player on this list has ever delivered more assists in a single season in one of Europe's top five leagues than Xavi. In 2008/09, the Spaniard supplied 22 goals for his Barcelona colleagues, outrageous.
6. Cesc Fabregas
Games: 800
Assists: 234
A man born to assist. Fabregas has hit double-figures for assists in nine seasons during his career, including 19 in the 2014/15 campaign with Chelsea.
Fabregas with Chelsea
5. Angel Di Maria
Games: 695
Assists: 235
Even during his tumultuous season with United, Di Maria managed 11 assists in 27 Premier League games, some effort that.
4. Mesut Ozil
Games: 653
Assists: 253
Will we ever see him in an Arsenal shirt again? Who knows. His career may be petering out, but Ozil's stats speak for himself, with the German's record of 0.39 assists per game the best on this list.
3. Luis Suarez
Games: 713
Assists: 256
Remember when we mentioned the phrase 'complete forward' earlier? Well, this guy epitomises just that. An out-and-out striker should not have 250+ assists to their name, freakish numbers.
2. Cristiano Ronaldo
Games: 1008
Assists: 258
Ronaldo's assist record is criminally underrated. Yes, he may not be as much of a 'team player' as some, but the stats simply do not lie.
1. Lionel Messi
Games: 866
Assists: 319
The assist king! In 12 - yes, TWELVE - of his La Liga campaigns with Barcelona, Messi's assist tally has been in double-figures. There aren't enough superlatives in the English language to describe this guy.
Mosanya
1753
It is impossible to be more of a footballer than Messi. He is unpredictable. He is magical. He is unstoppable. He is invincible. He is incomparable. He is incredible. He is impossible. He is beautiful. Football has never seen anyone like him..
TheMostExperienced
1205
CR7 be like: The God of Football sent me to be the best. Messi be like: I don't remember sending anyone.😂😂
sehajbains_02
1012
But but Cristano doesn't assit and..... 👉 Second most assists in history 👉Most assists in UCL history 👉 Current International top scorer 👉 Top scorer and best player in UCL history 👉4th all time top scorer in football history 👉 Current top scorer
taebklmntz
784
This is just a joke folks, you see in life when you are doing anything that concerns more than one person, it should be fair that is without biases. Now to the point, this assist debate is now coming up because Messi is not scoring but playing assist and Ronaldo is scoring and also playing assist. So for the biased people since Messi is not scoring for now, they want to glorify Messi over Ronaldo who is now scoring. Since when they started with Messi. Three seasons ago Messi was scoring and playing assist but the issue of his assist was never spoken of. Again you can not glorified one player over the other players. Barcelona last game that four players scored and they were not mentioned and praised but Messi assist only it is wrong. Now with the the header goals Ronaldo has scored, no one is concerned with it now but as soon as Messi starts scoring headers, people will be all over about him being the best Header. Let's stop this folks the both players are great and non of them wouldn't have achieved without the other. It was for Ronaldo that Messi is great and it was for Messi that Ronaldo is great because they challenge each other because one was always around for the challenge. Tell me how many past challengers like Ronaldo and Messi. Be wise.
Zecbcdmpy
760
surprisingly KDB, Neymar and Suarez is number might be the best on this list, considering the number of games they played, but we just have to take Messi and Ronaldo out, they had a different career and different surroundings, honestly no doubt they are the greatest of all time, but social media played a very big part on that, their story was selling so good, people tend to get attracted to those type of competitions, some of the past years their were players who out performed both, but the media saw a lot of potential in their story, so they never allowed anyone else to take the light away, in fact in few occasions their were played who deserved Ballon d'or more than both like Ineista, Xavi, Ribbery, Robben, Suarez, Leva, Neuer, VVD, Griezman, but they are still the greatest of all time
Eddymore446
752
Assist 319 scored 700 but he played only 866 this guy is not a footballer he is the football himself he made football look easy Bible says the gift of God make a way for a man and add no sorrow God blesses this man with raw football talent
JosephOjo
636
And they said Cr7 is selfish. haters keep hating
nwa4lifd
418
Messi is 150+ games lesser with more assists and an equivalent goals with "you know who" yet he is not a striker......
SMJHKV
298
He played less games than all in this list .... Still he is ahead of many legends in this ... Even then neymar is the most dirrespected player in the world ... He may behave like child , May act .. But all of you must agree that he is one of the best in the world & .. Becs the things he does in pitch is really extraordinary & his stats are great ... This guy really diserves more respect !
Dipanshuu06
182
Dont Compare Just Enjoy
dezesty
171
when we see this, we all can understand how worth that Neymar is in a team.....
wazacmoruy
117
And people say Ronaldo is selfish and can't assists. If benzema and other players can converts Ronaldo easy passes and crosses into goals then he can easily cross more than 300 assists margin.And another fact that Ronaldo play as a midfielder,winger and center forward in his career and manage to become the best in that position whichever he play while Messi plays as a winger in his hole career.But this post doesn't mean I hate Messi.I appericate both players and have equal respects for both of the goats of our generation.
dJules03
111
The king of assists
MissileFc
9
This is just a joke folks, you see in life when you are doing anything that concerns more than one person, it should be fair that is without biases. Now to the point, this assist debate is now coming up because Messi is not scoring but playing assist and Ronaldo is scoring and also playing assist. So for the biased people since Messi is not scoring for now, they want to glorify Messi over Ronaldo who is now scoring. Since when they started with Messi. Three seasons ago Messi was scoring and playing assist but the issue of his assist was never spoken of. Again you can not glorified one player over the other players. Barcelona last game that four players scored and they were not mentioned and praised but Messi assist only it is wrong. Now with the the header goals Ronaldo has scored, no one is concerned with it now but as soon as Messi starts scoring headers, people will be all over about him being the best Header. Let's stop this folks the both players are great and non of them wouldn't have achieved without the other. It was for Ronaldo that Messi is great and it was for Messi that Ronaldo is great because they challenge each other because one was always around for the challenge. Tell me how many past challengers like Ronaldo and Messi. Be wise.
🤣🤣🤣🤣 what a nonsense you are[Crylaugh][Crylaugh]If this news would about CR7,u will never say a single word.And this is confirmed from your comment.You already biased.Lets leave it and enjoy the beauty of football.
admin00
9
Don't be ridiculous. You obviously don't know about Pelé.
Do you??
AryanoRiGInal
9
But but Cristano doesn't assit and..... 👉 Second most assists in history 👉Most assists in UCL history 👉 Current International top scorer 👉 Top scorer and best player in UCL history 👉4th all time top scorer in football history 👉 Current top scorer
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no one said he doesnt assist. but when messi and ronaldo are compared to each other, things have a way of amplifying and insults overwhelming. he may have a low apg % , but when an attacker is that influential, he gets involved in most of the attacks in every game, so assists are inevitable. but compared to messi, he is not that good in playmaking, and most of his assists came in utd where he was more if a winger and less of everything . but still, he is a proven legend and just like messi he is good at everything. its just the way his game works that leads people to believe he doesnt assist