Top 10 Players with Most Assists in World Cup History

Football is more than just a game of scoring goals, as the ones who create those goal-scoring opportunities also hold equal importance. Across different editions of the FIFA World Cup, many players rose to prominence because of their ability to deliver line-breaking passes, which were eventually converted by some of the best finishers in football history. Hence, to make our avid readers aware, in this article, we will be providing information focused on players with the most assists in World Cup history. It records contributions made during official matches of the FIFA World Cup, focusing only on assists registered in finals tournaments. Assists from preliminary rounds, friendlies or other international competitions organised by FIFA are excluded to maintain tournament-specific accuracy.

At the top of the record of most assists in World Cup history stands one of Brazil's greatest footballers, Pelé, who delivered 10 assists across four World Cups between 1958 and 1970, highlighting his role as both a scorer and creator. He is followed by 2022 World Cup Winner Lionel Messi, whose nine assists across five tournaments reflect sustained playmaking output over different editions. Diego Maradona also features prominently, recording eight assists across four tournaments during Argentina’s most influential World Cup years. The table below presents the most assists in World Cup from a historical perspective without adjustments for playing position or tournament format, offering a clear statistical reference for creative impact on football’s biggest stage.

List of Players with the Most Assists in FIFA World Cup