Mbappe, Haaland and Kane have been rightfully lauded this campaign, pushing each other on to more bodacious goal-scoring feats.
The voracious goal-getters are symptomatic of a broader free-flowing attitude in Europe’s top leagues (think Kompany’s Bayern and Chivu’s Inter). I just thought I would take a moment to signal out the mavericks who might not get the same back-page coverage as the marksmen: the assist kings. If strikers get the job done; these guys lay out the blueprints, orchestrating all the goal-scoring carnage that we adore. This is a list of the five top assist merchants across Europe’s top five leagues. I have opted to only use league appearances (the players have varying degrees of European involvement). In the case of a tie, I have opted for the guy who has achieved that milestone in the least number of matches. Here goes.
5. Luiz Diaz- 29 games, 13 assists (Bayern Munich)
It seems insane to think that Luiz Diaz has been at Bayern for less than a year. The Colombian winger already feels like an intrinsic part of this formidable Bavarian unit, adding goals and creativity off that left-hand flank. Diaz has probably gone a bit under the radar, with Kane’s goalscoring and Olise’s playmaking producing stats designed to make the eyes bleed. But Diaz has been a steady source of both, scoring 15 goals and assisting 13 times in the Bundesliga alone. His pure, direct running is the ideal counterpoint to Olise’s more cultured, controlled devilry.
4. Julian Ryerson- 28 games, 13 assists (Borussia Dortmund)
This is probably the one name that doesn’t immediately leap off the page (which is probably one of the pitfalls of playing for a perennial ‘nearly’ club like Borussia Dortmund). 28-year-old Norwegian Ryerson has firmly established himself as one of the most devastating wing-backs in European football, using his Beckham-esque dead-ball delivery to pressurize opponents. He has been on an absolute tear since the start of the year, trailing only Olise in the Bundesliga assists charts. He flaunted his attributes in February’s clash with Mainz, becoming just the 4th player since 2004-2005 to register four assists in a Bundesliga clash.
3. Federico Dimarco- 34 games, 18 assists (Inter Milan)
The 2nd ‘defender’ on this list, buccaneering wing-back Federico Dimarco has been rewriting the Serie A history books on a weekly basis. And he truly immortalized himself on Sunday, providing two assists to break Papu Gomez’s Serie A record of 16 assists in a campaign. As left-footed as Andy Robertson or Marcelo, Dimarco’s sheer variety of deliveries is what sets him apart from fellow wing-backs. Whether he’s fizzing the ball across the face of goal or elegantly stabbing one up at the back-post, DiMarco controls the trajectory of the ball like a ventriloquist controls its puppet.
2. Michael Olise- 29 games, 18 assists (Bayern Munich)
My personal pick for this season’s Ballon d’or, Michael Olise has been the attacking fulcrum behind Bayern’s outrageous goal output. Kane has been the ultimate hitman, leading the line brilliantly while dropping deep to do his own playmaking duties. But Olise is the man who gives opponents sleepless nights, owning that right-hand flank with his incredible speed and vision. You just have to look at that epic Real Madrid quarterfinal clash to witness the impact of Olise. Olise carries that left foot like a wand, teasing and baiting teams when he isn’t just whipping it into the top corner. However, he will need to go some to break Thomas Muller’s league record of 21 assists (especially as he is preserved for key European fixtures).
1. Bruno Fernandes- 31 games, 19 assists (Manchester United)
The resurgence of Bruno Fernandes has been one of the more invigorating narratives across the entirety of the European footballing landscape. The Portuguese playmaker had become an almost parodic figure during the ill-fated reigns of Ten Hag and Amorim, often scapegoated for United’s general malaise. He has looked a man reborn this season, collecting assists under both Amorim and Carrick’s guidance. But he has looked a man reborn under Carrick, drifting forward and ninjaing his way into pockets of mischievousness. He added another assist against Brentford on Monday night, taking his Premier League tally to 19 for the campaign. He needs just one more to match the Premier League record of 20, currently held by Henry and De Bruyne.
