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While goal scorers take most of the plaudits in football, it would be a crime to undervalue the contribution of the playmaker. There are few things more satisfying than a beautifully created goal and the intricate passes involved in its scoring.
The artists in a team’s midfield are arguably the most influential in creating opportunities for the team. Often it’s that one killer, defence-splitting pass that leads to a goal, and strikers thrive on such an occurrence, as rare as they are.
Forwards like Salah and Mbappe have been among the assists this season
Strikers can also turn into providers, with many modern-day forwards being involved in playmaking and creating chances.
With several thrilling title races across Europe, many world-class players are involved in the race to be crowned the king of assists come the end of the season. Here we take a look at the five players in Europe’s top five leagues who are leading the pack in terms of assists.
#5 Trent Alexander-Arnold | Liverpool (7 assists)
Trent Alexander-Arnold is one of two Liverpool players who have made the cut for most assists so far this season. For a full-back, Alexander-Arnold is putting up astounding numbers pertaining to assists, chances created, and crosses.
Along with Andrew Robertson, the Englishman has been Liverpool's creator-in-chief over the last four seasons.
Alexander-Arnold has racked up seven assists in the Premier League this campaign. He is tied with the likes of Karim Benzema, Paul Pogba and Andrej Kramaric when it comes to setting up teammates. However, since he is a defender who plays in the most competitive league, the right-back ranks above the aforementioned trio.
Alexander-Arnold has already matched his assist tally from last season. Liverpool's number 66 is well on course to break his own record (13) for most assists by a defender in a Premier League season as well. Overall, Alexander-Arnold already has 53 assists in his short career.
#4 Florian Wirtz | Bayer Leverkusen (8 assists)
At just 18, Florian Wirtz is taking the Bundesliga by storm this season with his mesmerizing performances. He was promoted to Bayer Leverkusen’s first team in 2020 and has been crucial to Leverkusen’s success. Wirtz is one of three gifted youngsters within the German outfit's ranks, alongside Edmond Tapsoba and Moussa Diaby.
Wirtz’s skill and composure for his age are commendable, and quite a few big clubs will be after him in the summer transfer window. The German international already has eight assists and five goals to his name in just 12 games in the Bundesliga.
The Bayer Leverkusen starlet recently became the first U-19 footballer to score more than ten goals in the Bundesliga. Given the talent he is blessed with, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Wirtz break even more records in the coming years.
The youngster has earned four senior caps with the German national team as well and is an exciting prospect for the future.
#3 Kylian Mbappe | PSG (8 assists)
Tipped to become one of the greatest in the world, Kylian Mbappe has always been a goal machine for Paris Saint Germain (PSG). However, Mbappe has also been providing assists and helping the Parisians dominate Ligue 1 this season.
The 22-year-old Frenchman is one of the deadliest forwards in Europe. Mbappe has scored seven goals and assisted eight in the French top-flight this campaign.
His overall goalscoring rate is incredible, having netted 141 times in 192 appearances for the Parisians, and he has also provided 74 assists to boot. At just 22 years of age, Mbappe's scoring ability is frightening and he has been the Ligue 1 top-scorer for the past three seasons.
Mbappe, currently the most valuable player in the world, also has the dream duo of Neymar Jr. and Lionel Messi by his side this season. This makes PSG serious contenders for the UEFA Champions League in addition to the Ligue 1 title.
#2 Mohamed Salah | Liverpool (9 assists)
Be it goals or assists, one cannot keep Mohamed Salah out of the conversation for long. He is currently enjoying one of the seasons of his life and breaking records for fun with Liverpool. Salah recently became the highest-scoring African in the league and has already written his name into the Premier League history books.
The two-time Premier League Golden Boot winner has also contributed in terms of assists this season. The Egyptian already has 13 goals and nine assists in the league and is the leader in both categories. Overall, Salah has scored 144 goals and provided 56 assists for Liverpool in 223 appearances.
The 29-year-old has been one of the best players in the world this season and Liverpool will dearly miss Salah when the African Cup of Nations begins. The unstoppable Egyptian is one of the main reasons Liverpool are second in the league, just one point behind leaders Man City.
#1 Thomas Muller | Bayern Munich (11 assists)
The second Bundesliga player on this list is the much-adored Thomas Muller. A one-club man, Muller has been at the heart of Bayern Munich’s midfield for over a decade and has plenty of honors to his name. Muller has won everything there is to win in Bavaria and is still going strong in 2021.
The 32-year-old German may not be in his prime anymore, but is certainly a threat when it comes to creating chances. Muller has an incredible 11 assists in just 14 games this season in the Bundesliga.
In total, Muller has scored 220 goals and provided 233 assists for Bayern. Muller is a master at linking up play and was influential in Bayern’s successful Champion’s League campaign in 2020. The German plays with his heart on his sleeve and gives his utmost in every game.
Muller is an all-time Bayern great, forming a remarkable bond with his strikers both on and off the pitch.
