Top 10 players with most assists in FIFA Club World Cup history

These players have had a phenomenal record at the competition.

The FIFA Club World Cup is one of the most prestigious tournaments held in the world. The current format of the tournament involves seven teams competing for the title at venues within the host nation. The winners of that year's AFC Champions League (Asia), CAF Champions League (Africa), CONCACAF Champions League (North, Central America and Caribbean), CONMEBOL Libertadores (South America), OFC Champions League (Oceania) and UEFA Champions League (Europe), along with the host nation's national champions, participate in a straight knock out tournament.

Real Madrid have won this elusive trophy for 4 times, a feat achieved by no other club. Chelsea are the holders of the last edition but over the years we have witnessed many historic teams pull off brilliant performances with players from different cultures and countries. Let’s have a look at the players to have had the most assists in FIFA Club World Cup:

10. Andrew Bevin (2 assists)

It is very rare that we hear a team from New Zealand participating in well renowned competitions across the globe. Team Wellington from New Zealand defied the odds and made it to the FIFA Club World Cup in 2018. After winning OFC Champions League 2018 and Andrew Bevin turned on the heat in their one and only ever fixture in the FIFA Club World Cup against Al Ain FC by having two assists. Team Wellington lead the match by 3 goals in the first half. Although their joy was shortlived in that match as they lost out by 4-3 in penalties after Al Ain came back in the second half to equalize three goals to force extra time. Their has not been heard much about him after that as a professional football player.

9. Shoma Doi (3 assists)

A legend of Kashima Antlers by all means in the J1 League, he primarily plays as an attacking midfielder who can also be deployed as a number 9 if needed. A master of assists, he was an influential figure in the Kashima Antler’s side that made it’s way to the final of the 2016 FIFA Club World Cup only to be defeated by Real Madrid after a narrow defeat in extra-time. Doi won plaudits for his performance during the competition, contributing with 1 goal and 3 assists. He is also the first player to score a penalty from a decision made by VAR at a FIFA competition. He has 50 goals in 297 appearances overall for the Kashima Antlers.

8. Aldo De Nigris (3 assists)

Aldo De Nigris is a Mexican former professional footballer who played as a striker. He played at the direct rivals of Monterrey FC at Tigres UANL in the Liga MX division during the initial days of his career. Although he has his most favourite memories with Monterrey FC after he signed for them in 2009. He had two spells at the club in which he scored 59 goals in 179 appearances overall for the Rayados. He had 3 assists in 5 appearances for the Rayados within that spell too in FIFA Club World Cup.

7. Caio Lucas Fernandes (3 assists)

With most of his glory days centered around Al-Ain FC, this left winger was considered a wide prospect around Europe. Until his brief stint at Benfica proved his talent otherwise. Helping Al-Ain reach 2018 FIFA Club World Cup final, he had 3 assists in that campaign in 4 appearances. He was also named J.League’s Young  Player of the Year in 2014 while playing for Kashima Antlers. His move to Benfica did not pan out well for him as he made only 3 appearances for them. He moved onto Sharjah FC where he currently plays.

6. Thiago Alcantara (3 assists)

Thiago is a Distributor with a blend of Builder and Box to Box thrown in. He is brilliant at shifting his body weight to drift past an opponent or simply to create a yard of space in which to play a pass. He uses the momentum of any player who approaches him to his advantage, quickly jinking from one side to another and pushing the ball into space. UEFA Champions league winner with FC Barcelona and Bayern Munich in 2015 and 2020 respectively. He has 3 assists in his name out of 4 appearances in FIFA Club World Cup for both these clubs. Currently playing for Liverpool in English Premier League. He has 17 goals in 150 appearances for the Bavarians and 7 goals in 68 appearances for the Blaugranas.

5. Gao Lin (3 assists)

Gao Lin is a Chinese professional footballer who plays as a forward for Chinese Super League club Shenzhen. He is the all-time top goal scorer for Guangzhou Evergrande –his previous club with 113 goals, and has also made the most appearances for the club. Playing mostly as a left winger during his prime days, he had that burst of pace and the knack to deliver pin point balls to his teammates. He became the Chinese League One top goal scorer in 2010 and represented Guangzhou Evergrande from 2010-2019 until his move to Shenzen FC. He also has 3 assists in his name out of 6 appearances in the FIFA Club World Cup.

4. Humberto Suazo (3 Assists)

Nicknamed “Chupete”, Humberto Suazo is no doubt a world-class striker. He had the ability and the speed to leave his marker and get open to receive the ball or to at least become an option for his teammates. Suazo could score in a flurry of ways and according to many fans around the globe, it is who resurrected Monterrey FC from an average team into an elite club. He had an amazing passing accuracy throughout his career and led Monterrey FC to 5 titles in a span of 4 years including 3 CONCACAF Champions League titles, which also represents the “Golden Era” of Rayados. He is the highest goalscorer of Monterrey FC with 121 goals in 252 appearances for the club.

3. Hassan Al Haydos (3 Assists)

With 158 games under his belt, Al Haydos is the all-time most capped Qatari international. It can be argued that he is among the most influential players in the team, having contributed to a total of 38 goals during his time with Al Annabi. Currently playing for Al Sadd in Qatar Stars League, he is primarily a forward who can get deep between the lines and also operate as a playmaker if required. In a total of 297 appearances for Al Sadd, he has scored 93 times and has been a key figure of this club leading them to AFC Asian Cup in 2019. He has 3 assists in 6 appearances in FIFA Club World Cup.

2. Neri Cardozo (4 Assists)

Currently playing for Venados Futbol club based in Mexico, the 36 year old midfielder is tied on the top spot with Toni Kroos. He has bagged 4 assists in this competition for Monterrey FC and Venados in 9 appearances for both these clubs and is primarily an attacking midfielder who can operate on both sides of the field. He has already been seen by many European teams because of his great speed, good shot power, and great passing skills but it his due to his age that his opportunities have been very limited. Cardozo is one of the few players to win every continental title in America: the Copa Libertadores, Copa Sudamericana, Recopa Sudamericana and the CONCACAF Champions League.

1. Toni Kroos (4 assists)

Kroos's expertise has always been in his unrivalled passing ability. He has slung more passes into the final third than anyone else in Champions League history. It is an astronomical gap between him and #2. he is elite at several offensive traits, and has been for years. Kroos plays mainly as a central midfielder, but has also been deployed as a deep-lying playmaker in his career. He represented Bayern Munich from 2007 till 2014 until he signed for the Los Blancos in 2014 going on to four UEFA Champions league titles with the Madridistas in 2016,2017,2018 and 2022 respectively. He has 4 assists in 9 appearances in FIFA Club World Cup for the Bavarians and Los Blancos respectively.