Messi, De Bruyne, Ozil: 20 players with most assists in a season since 2000 | OneFootball

Lionel Messi is certainly prolific when it comes to assists.

As well as being one of the greatest goalscorers in history, the Argentine genius sets up teammates on a regular basis.

Even in his difficult first season with Paris Saint-Germain, Messi has assisted 13 goals in just 24 Ligue 1 appearances.

Only Kylian Mbappe has more to his name in 2021/22.

Messi really is the complete forward and that’s why he features three times in PopFoot‘s graphic which details the 20 players with the most assists in a single season since 2000.

And the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner shares top spot…

The 20 players with most assists in a season this century

20. Angel Di Maria (Real Madrid, 2013/14) – 17 assists in 34 games

19. Cesc Fabregas (Arsenal, 2007/08) – 17 assists in 32 games

18. Frank Lampard (Chelsea, 2004/05) – 18 assists in 38 games

17. Lionel Messi (Barcelona, 2014/15) – 18 assists in 38 games

16. Jerome Rothen (AS Monaco, 2002/03) – 18 assists in 37 games

15. Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City, 2016/17) – 18 assists in 36 games

14. Cesc Fabregas (Chelsea, 2014/15) – 18 assists in 34 games

13. Lionel Messi (Barcelona, 2010/11) – 18 assists in 33 games

12. Thomas Muller (Bayern Munich, 2020/21) – 18 assists in 32 games

11. Thomas Muller (Bayern Munich, 2021/22) – 18 assists in 30 games

10. Angel Di Maria (Paris Saint-Germain, 2015/16) – 18 assists in 29 games

9. Mesut Ozil (Real Madrid, 2010/11) – 19 assists in 36 games

8. Mesut Ozil (Real Madrid, 2011/12) – 19 assists in 35 games

7. Mesut Ozil (Arsenal, 2015/16) – 19 assists in 35 games

6. Emil Forsberg (RB Leipzig, 2016/17) – 19 assists in 30 games

5. Xavi (Barcelona, 2008/09) – 20 assists in 35 games

4. Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City, 2019/20) – 20 assists in 35 games

3. Kevin De Bruyne (Wolfsburg, 2014/15) – 20 assists in 34 games

2. Lionel Messi (Barcelona, 2019/20) – 21 assists in 33 games

Messi, Muller, De Bruyne and Ozil all feature three times on the list, which suggests they’re the four best playmakers of the 21st century thus far.

It will be intriguing to see whether the current record of 21 assists is topped in the near future.

With Erling Haaland now set to join Manchester City, De Bruyne is in the perfect position to achieve it next season…

“Manchester City sign Erling Haaland” (Football Terrace)

Lionel Messi: Can you get 20/20 on this quiz about his Barcelona career?

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At what age did Messi join Barcelona?

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