Top 10 Players with the Most Assists in Football History – November 2025 Rankings

      Goals win matches, but assists win hearts. In football, the creator — the player who sees the pass no one else does, who threads the needle through three defenders, who turns a moment of chaos into pure art — is often the true genius of the game. As of November 2025, here is the definitive, fully updated ranking of the 10 players with the most career assists in football history (club + international combined). From Ferenc Puskás’s untouchable 404 to Lionel Messi’s relentless chase for the record, these are the visionaries who made the beautiful game truly beautiful.

10. Cesc Fàbregas – 297 assists

The Spanish maestro spent his prime at Arsenal and Barcelona, racking up 297 assists across club and country. His 111 Premier League assists remain a record for a midfielder. Fàbregas was the architect of Arsenal’s 2007–2011 golden era and Barcelona’s tiki-taka dominance — his vision at 23 was already world-class.

9. Thomas Müller – 312 assists (and counting)

At 36, the “Raumdeuter” is still going strong at Bayern Munich. 312 assists in 737 club games + 42 for Germany. Müller’s genius isn’t flashy — it’s finding space where none exists and delivering the perfect final ball. Ten Bundesliga titles, two Champions Leagues, and a World Cup — all built on his selfless creativity.

8. Ángel Di María – 323 assists

The Argentine winger has played for Real Madrid, PSG, Manchester United, and Juventus — and everywhere he goes, assists follow. 323 in total, including 31 for Argentina. His curling crosses and outside-of-the-boot passes have tormented defenders for 15 years. Still going strong at 37.

7. Xavi Hernández – 336 assists

The brain of Barcelona’s tiki-taka empire. 336 assists in 867 games — most of them short, sharp, one-touch passes that sliced teams apart. Four Champions Leagues, eight La Liga titles, and a World Cup — all orchestrated by the greatest midfield passer of his generation.

6. Cristiano Ronaldo – 257 assists (and counting)

Yes, Ronaldo is a goal machine (900+), but his 257 assists are often forgotten. His crossing from the left at Manchester United, his cut-backs at Real Madrid, and his headers setting up teammates at Al-Nassr — the man who redefined what a winger can do.

5. Kevin De Bruyne – 336 assists (and counting)

The best passer on the planet right now. 336 assists in 738 club games + 49 for Belgium. 100+ Premier League assists already — a record that may never be broken. His 60-yard diagonals and whipped crosses are football art.

4. Luis Suárez – 348 assists

The Uruguayan predator wasn’t just a goalscorer — he was a creator. 348 assists alongside 496 goals. His link-up with Messi at Barcelona was telepathic — 83 assists in 283 games together. Still adding to the tally at 38.

3. Ryan Giggs – 356 assists

The ultimate one-club man. 356 assists in 963 Manchester United games over 24 years. His whipped crosses from the left were lethal — 162 Premier League assists, a record that stood for decades. The Welsh wizard who defined an era.

2. Lionel Messi – 389 assists (and counting)

The greatest playmaker ever. 389 assists in 1,047 club games + 59 for Argentina. His vision, weight of pass, and ability to create from nothing are unmatched. In 2025, he’s still adding to the tally at Inter Miami — on course to hit 400 before he retires.

1. Ferenc Puskás – 404 assists

The untouchable record. 404 assists in 719 games for Budapest Honvéd, Real Madrid, and Hungary. The Hungarian genius who scored 709 goals and assisted 404 — a ratio no one has come close to. In an era without video, his vision was legendary. Messi is 15 assists away — but even if he gets there, doing it in the 1940s/50s makes Puskás the eternal king.

Conclusion

Assists are the unsung art of football — the moment of genius that makes the goal possible. From Puskás’s 404 in a bygone era to Messi’s relentless pursuit in 2025, these 10 creators have defined the game. The record may fall one day, but the beauty of their passes never will.

Who’s your favourite assist king? Who should be higher? Drop your take in the comments — I reply to every one!

Disclaimer: Stats from Transfermarkt/FIFA, November 2025. See our Privacy Policy for details.