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Making assists is part of the job description for midfielders. Just as players in other positions have their own roles in the team, the midfielders are supposed to control the tempo of games. Part of this involves finding the perfect pass to set up the right teammates to score goals for their team.
In order to make assists on a regular basis, players must be decisive in their passing and release the ball with the right weight of pass.
In the 21st century, a number of midfielders managed to master the art of making assists for their teams. Without further ado, here is a list of the five highest assisting central midfielders who played in the 21st century.
#5 Frank Lampard (188 assists)
Chelsea great Frank Lampard is widely remembered for being the best goalscoring midfielder of the 21st century. A lot of people, however, forget that the former England international was equally adept at creating goals for others.
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Lampard made a total of 188 assists in his professional career for club and country. He has made 176 assists for his various clubs and 12 for the English national team.
Lampard made the bulk of his assists in a Chelsea shirt, with exactly 150 assists coming as a Blues player. The former midfielder also featured for West Ham United, Manchester City and New York City FC in his career.
In the past, people have praised Lampard as the most complete midfielder of his generation, and they have the statistics to back up that claim. Lampard was an elite midfielder, and he remains one of the best ever.
#4 Steven Gerrard (188 assists)
Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard has enjoyed a productive career as a professional footballer for the Merseyside outfit. Gerrard was one of the best midfielders in the world in the same era as Frank Lampard, who was his direct competitor.
Gerrard made a total of 188 assists in his career, the exact total made by England teammate Lampard in his own career. He made 165 assists for Liverpool and Los Angeles Galaxy, the two clubs he represented in his career. The retired midfielder also made 23 assists during his time as an England international. Gerrard made more than half of his total assists as a Liverpool player.
After adding Steven Gerrard's playmaking ability to his goalscoring skills, it is evident that the retired Englishman was one of the best in his position.
#3 Andres Iniesta (190 assists)
Andres Iniesta is one of the most brilliant midfielders the world has ever seen. The legendary midfielder currently plies his trade in Japan with Vissel Kobe, having spent a large chunk of his career as a Barcelona player.
Iniesta has made 190 assists so far in his professional career for club and country. The 37-year-old midfielder has made 160 assists in club football so far, and 30 for the Spanish national team. The Spaniard made the most of his assists for FC Barcelona, with the exact figure standing at 138 assists for the Catalan club. He has made 22 assists for Vissel Kobe since joining them in 2018.
Iniesta is a global football icon and will be most fondly remembered for scoring the goal that gave Spain its first and only FIFA World Cup title in 2010.
#2 Xavi (238 assists)
Along with Iniesta and Sergio Busquets, Xavi was the heartbeat of the most dominant midfield trios ever seen in the 21st century. The retired midfield maestro was instrumental in the success of the Spanish national team and FC Barcelona in late 2000s and early 2010s.
Xavi made 238 assists in his professional career for club and country. He has made 214 assists in club football and 24 for the Spanish national team. Xavi represented only two clubs as a professional: Barcelona and Qatari side Al Sadd. He has made 186 assists for Barcelona in total.
Xavi enjoyed a hugely successful playing career for club and country. The 42-year-old is presently the manager of his boyhood club, having been put in charge in 2021 after the sacking of Ronald Koeman.
#1 Cesc Fabregas (248 assists)
Cesc Fabregas is undoubtedly the king of assists among central midfielders of the 21st century. The AS Monaco midfielder has made a total of 248 assists so far in his career, providing excellent value to every club he has played for.
Fabregas played alongside Lionel Messi at FC Barcelona's academy before moving to Arsenal, where he made his first-team debut aged 16. The midfield maestro has made 248 assists in his professional career for club and country. The Spaniard has managed 212 assists in club football and 36 for the Spanish national team.
Fabregas came on as a late substitute in the 2010 FIFA World Cup final for Spain and made the decisive assist for the winning goal in extra-time. His pass selection and range is unrivaled in the modern game, and this has enabled him to make many assists.
