Assists often go unnoticed in international football, with all the craze surrounding players with the most goals. But, they are just as important when it comes to the creation of goal-scoring opportunities. In this article, we will be taking a look at the players with the most international assists.
Let’s discover the top 10 players with the most international assists:
10. Eden Hazard (Belgium)
Games: 115
Assists: 34
Eden Hazard was one of the best talents to ever represent Belgium, captaining and spearheading them to a best-ever third-placed finish at the 2018 World Cup. He led the list of names in their Golden Generation but fell short of winning silverware on many occasions. Regardless, the Chelsea legend has two more assists than David Beckham over the course of his international career, after retiring following the 2022 World Cup.
9. Mesut Ozil (Germany)
Games: 92
Assists: 40
Despite retiring from the German national team in 2018, Mesut Ozil remains among the players with the most international assists of all time. The former Real Madrid and Arsenal midfielder is renowned for his vision and passing ability but has been harshly criticised for his fitness and discipline as well.
8. Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal)
Games: 184
Assists: 41
Cristiano Ronaldo has scored the most goals of all time, and it is no surprise that he is in the top three for the most international assists as well. The Portugal captain led his side to the 2016 Euro title, but is still without a World Cup title, after most recently falling short in Qatar.
7. Kevin De Bruyne (Belgium)
Games: 85, Assists: 45
De Bruyne is by far the most effective playmaker of his generation. The Manchester City midfielder has the highest assist-per-game ratio at 0.46 and is closing in on the top spots for the most international assists as well.
6. Pele (Brazil)
Games 92, Assists: 47
The only player with three World Cup winners medals in his cabinet, Pele also has one of the highest assist figures of all time. The legend is hailed as one of the best players ever and certainly has the numbers to back it up.
5. Sándor Péter Kocsis
Games: 68, Assists: 50
Kocsis has one of the best games to assist ratio of anyone in the list, registering half a century of assists in just 68 games for the Hungarian national team. He also featured for FC Barcelona, playing for them between 1958 to 1965.
4. Ferenc Puskas
Games: 85, Assists: 53
The Hungarian icon now has an award named after him, which is given every year to the player scoring the most aesthetically beautiful goal in the season. His international career was prolific to say the least, scoring 84 goals and providing 53 assists in just 85 games. He is tied on international assists with the Argentine superstar widely considered the best of all time.
3. Lionel Messi (Argentina)
Games: 159, Assists: 53
Messi has scored the most international goals in South America, surpassing Pele. The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner lifted his first trophy with Argentina in 2021, beating Brazil in the Copa America finals. And in 2022, he completed his trophy cabinet with the World Cup against France in the final.
2. Landon Donovan
Games: 157, Assists: 58
An American hero, although not as prominent as many other names on this list, Donovan has one of the highest international assist figures. The former Everton and Leverkusen player registered 58 assists in 157 USMNT games alongside 57 goals.
1. Neymar (Brazil)
Games: 128 | Assists: 59
The charismatic winger now has the most assists of anybody in international football, alongside the most international goals of any Brazil, overtaking Pele’s tally of 77. He now has 79 goals to his name in 128 games and is a true legend for his country.
FAQs
Which Player Has the Most International Assist of All-Time?
Neymar (Brazil)