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While the race for the European Golden Shoe is heating up with the likes of Lionel Messi and Mohammed Salah in contention, the top assist leaders in Europe's top-5 leagues are quietly enjoying a race of their own.
A statistic very often ignored and not given due credit for, it is around these people their teams revolve. The goal-scorer tends to steal the limelight and we frequently ignore the personnel who were involved in the build-up.
So, we look at the players leading the assist charts in Europe's top-5 leagues this season and there are some surprising names on the list:
#5 Leroy Sane (Manchester City) 11 assists in 25 games
Manchester City has been a force to be reckoned with this season and Leroy Sane has been a revelation. The German was signed by City in 2016 for a reported £37 million.
In 37 games for the club in all competitions last season, he scored 9 goals, which is a decent return.
This season he has been the first-choice right winger at the club and has formed quite a partnership with Sergio Aguero and Raheem Sterling as the three have started the majority of City's game up-front.
In addition to scoring 12 goals, he has also racked up 11 assists this campaign.
The German had a minor injury that kept him out for two weeks but is back in form and City will want him to be at his best as they try to go through to the latter rounds of the Champions League.
*Honourable mentions: Florian Thauvin (Marseille) and Luis Alberto (Lazio) are also tied at 11 assists but have played more games than the German.
#4 Lionel Messi (Barcelona) 12 assists in 28 games
With Neymar's departure to Paris Saint-Germain, many started doubting Barcelona's title credentials this season. The attacking trio of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, and Neymar was no more and new coach Ernesto Valverde has come in.
Messi took the responsibility on his shoulders and as we are nearing the end of the season, Barcelona is unbeaten, in the driving seat for a treble and he finds himself as the leading goalscorer with 25 goals as well as the assist leader with 11 assists to his name.
He has tended to drop back (very deep sometimes!) and initiate attacks from just behind the forward line. He has also been given a free role by Valverde, just like most of his predecessors which has helped the cause.
Andres Iniesta has missed some games this season and Messi has turned out to be their most creative force this season.
#3 Philipp Max (Augsburg) 13 assists in 27 games
A surprise name on the list is left-back Philipp Max. The German has enjoyed a breakthrough season this year and has 13 assists to his name.
Signed by Augsburg in 2015, the 24-year-old has made 68 league appearances for the club. He has taken his game to another level this season with his pin-point crosses a major source of Augsburg's goals.
He often makes a late overlap, gets the ball and delivers accurate crosses into the box. His excellent crossing ability rewarded him, as manager Manuel Baum put him on set-piece duty which has further helped him rack up the numbers.
Excellent crossers of the ball are hard to find these days and it will not be a surprise if Europe's biggest clubs decide to make a move for the left-back in the near future if he continues to impress.
#2 Kevin de Bruyne (Manchester City) 14 assists in 30 games
Another Manchester City star makes the cut and this time it's none other than Kevin de Bruyne. The ex-Chelsea player leads the Premier League to assist chart with 14 assists and is in second place in Europe's top 5 leagues.
The Belgian has been at the heart of everything good about City this season and Pep Guardiola is playing to his strengths.
He has two wingers in Raheem Sterling and Leroy Sane who stay wide and use their pace to beat their man and connect with de Bruyne's through balls. He is also City's designated set-piece taker.
His crossing and passing abilities have drawn comparisons with the legendary David Beckham as well.
There is no doubt that City will be banking on him as they look to seal the league title in a few week's time and progress into the semi-finals of the Champions League.
#1 Neymar (Paris Saint-Germain) 15 assists in 20 games
There are many footballers who believe they have reached the pinnacle of their career when they get to play with Lionel Messi at Barcelona.
Well, Neymar was definitely not one of them. His decision to leave Barcelona and join PSG for a world record raised many eyebrows in the summer. The player though has just carried on and is doing what he does best, without heeding to the criticism.
In 30 games for the club in all competitions, he has scored 28 goals and has bagged 19 assists, 15 of which has come in the league.
Him, Edinson Cavani, and Kylian Mbappe instantly formed quite a formidable trio and PSG find themselves 17 points clear at the top of the table.
The Brazilian, though, is currently nursing an ankle injury and is expected to be back only in May which leaves the race open for others behind him to finish the season with the most assists in Europe's top leagues this season.
