Top 10 Players With Most Assists in Champions League

Europe's premier club competition, the UEFA Champions League is designed to provide top European clubs a platform to compete against each other at the highest level. The tournament features some of the biggest leagues on the continent, from the top leagues such as the English Premier League, LaLiga, Serie A, Bundesliga and many more. Over the years, countless players have graced the competition with their skills.

Since we have already covered the piece featuring the top 10 players with the most goals in the UEFA Champions League. Now, it's time to focus on other important aspects of goal scoring, that is, “assists”. The European competition has witnessed numerous world-class playmakers, displaying their creativity on the pitch in the UEFA Champions League to secure a spot in the list of most assists in Champions League. Let's find out which players have most assists in Champions League history.

List of Players Most Assists in Champions League History

Here's the list of the top 10 players most assists in Champions League since its inception. Check out the table below to find who has the most assists in Champions League history.

Who has the Most Assists in Champions League History?

Over the years, the UEFA Champions League has seen some of the finest creative players performing their art of playmaking, creating chances for their teammates to score goals. Let's discuss briefly which player has most assist in UEFA Champions League.

10. Karim Benzema (France)

The french striker Karim Benzema has won the prestigious five times with La Liga giants Real Madrid and became 4th leading goal scorer in the Champions League with 90 goals. During the 2021-22 campaign, the Frenchman finished as the top scorer after scoring 15 goals under Carlo Ancelotti. He is the second player to score a goal in Champions League editions for 18 years in running, along with Messi.

He amassed a tally of 29 assists to his name during his Champions League career while playing for Real Madrid and Olympique Lyonnais in 152 matches. In 2023, he left Europe to continue his club career in the Saudi Pro League. An exceptional goal scorer and creative forward, Benzema has 29 assists to his name, sealing a spot in the list of most assists in Champions League.

9. Andres Iniesta (Spain)

Andreas Iniesta is widely considered as one of the greatest Spanish players of all time, a midfield icon famous for his incredible passing, vision and dribbling. The Spaniard has given Culers countless memorable moments on the pitch with his magical gameplay in the Champions League. Under Pep Guardiola-led Barcelona, Iniesta was a vital cog in establishing the club's dominance in Europe.

The Spanish midfielder ranks 9th on the list of most assists in Champions League history, with 29 assists in total. Interestingly, he provided assists in three Champions League finals (2009, 2011 and 2015) and lifted four Champions League trophies. He turned out to be one of the most consistent performers ever to feature in UCL, delivering clutch performances in knockout fixtures.

8. Thomas Müller (Germany)

After spending a lengthy 16-year spell with his boyhood club, Thomas Müller has etched a remarkable legacy at Bayern Munich. He rose through the ranks of Bayern Munich's academy set-up to break into the first team operations. The Dynamic attacker has provided 33 Champions League assists in the tournament, playing at the highest level. His creativity made him the 8th player with most assist in UEFA Champions League.

In terms of appearances, the Bavarian icon has racked up over 160 outings in Europe's top-tier competition. Müller's successful career has cemented his place amongst the greatest German footballers in the world. The ex-German international also had the privilege to lift the UEFA Champions League trophies twice with the Bundesliga side in 2013 and 2020. He even ended up as runners up on two occasions in 2010 and 2012 respectivly.

7. Xavi Hernandez (Spain)

Another Barcelona icon Xavier Hernandez, is next up on the list of most assists in Champions League, notching up 30 assists in the UEFA's premier club competition. The Spanish midfielder is one of the finest ever La Masia products and spent his entire club career with the Catalan giants Barcelona. He played 17 seasons with his boyhood club, clinching over 30 major titles throughout his illustrious career.

In 2015, Xavi became the first player to reach the 150 UEFA Champions League appearances mark since making debut in September 1998. At the age of 18, the exceptional midfielder was the orchestrator in the midfield, creating goal-scoring opportunities. He won the prestigious competition four times while playing an important role in their success.

6. Ryan Giggs (Wales)

The Welshman icon Ryan Giggs is hailed as one of the greatest Manchester United players of all time, having served the English club for a long 24 seasons. He began his career as a wide midfielder who possessed tremendous ability of delivering pin point crosses and through balls with his left foot, alongwith blistering speed and ball control.

Giggs has the most number of Premier League assists to his name with a record 162 goal contributions from assists. The Man United legend has also carved his place amongst the most assists in Champions League proividng 31 assists in total for Manchester United. He was a consistent performer for the English club whenever they took the field at the prestigious European competition and won two UCL titles.

5. Kevin De Bruyne (Belgium)

The Belgian icon Kevin de Bruyne is undoubtedly the most gifted playmaker of this generation, his impeccable vision and intent to find a slight of spaces with his slick passing. An attacking midfielder by nature, the Belgian's creativity was a class apart as he produced chances in high volumes with his crossing, passing and movements.

The Belgian phenomenon Kevin De Bruyne has notched up a tally of 31 assists in the UEFA Champions League in his career so far. He is the only active player on the list of most assists in Champions League. He is currently playing for Serie A champions SSC Napoli and has previously represented Chelsea and KRC Genk in the prestigious competition.

4. Neymar Jr. (Brazil)

The Brazilian superstar Neymar Jr was once hailed as the best player in the world. He has proven his elite quality as a forward in top European leagues. He won the coveted trophy in the 2014-15 season with Barcelona thanks to Neymar netting a stunning 10 goals through the campaign, including in the final of the UEFA Champions League.

The Brazilian came close to doubling his UCL count this time with Paris Saint-Germain; however, lost to Bayern Munich in the final in the 2019-20 season. Neymar Jr. has 36 assists in the European competition for PSG and Barcelona combined. He was a nuisance for the opposition’s defenders to play against with his pace and trickery. His consistency in the UCL played a respectable tally of 81 games in the competition.

3. Lionel Messi (Argentina)

The Argentine icon Lionel Messi has made a total of 40 assists in Champions League matches played by him in his career. He has played for clubs like PSG and Barcelona in the competition in the years gone by. Messi has been one of the most exceptional performers to feature in the well-known European league. The forward featured in a tally of 163 Champions League games during his stay in Europe.

The former Barcelona icon has also bagged a significant number of 129 goals in the competition. Although, he is not playing in Europe and is a part of Major League Soccer side Inter Miami in America, where he is also churning up a decent number of goals and assists by performing on the same level as he has over the years. He recently helped Miami to win its first MLS title.

2. Angel di Maria (Argentina)

Another Argentine superstar Angel Di Maria, finds himself in the second spot among the top ten players with the most assists in Champions League, surpassing, his fellow teammate Lionel Messi. The former Real Madrid, Juventus, PSG & Benfica winger has racked up 41 assists in the Champions League. He was a key player in Real Madrid's memorable 2013-14 UEFA Champions League success.

Known for his effortless dribbling, cut-in, crossing and passing, Di Maria has been one of the finest wingers of this generation. Additionally, he has notched up a tally of 107 Champions League appearances so far, having also scored 23 goals in the prestigious tournament.

1. Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal)

The Portugal forward Cristiano Ronaldo sits at the top of the charts for the most assists in the Champions League. He has 48 assists to his name in the tournament in his career so far, having represented clubs like Man United, Juventus, and Real Madrid while playing in it. CR7 has played a mammoth number of 183 Champions League matches in his career so far.

In addition to his assist numbers, he is also one of the highest scorers in the European competition with 140 goals to his name as of now. However, with him venturing out from European football in recent times, one wonders if he will ever play in the UCL again in the times ahead. His unwavering legacy earned him the tag of “Mr Champions League”.