Top five players with most assists in Champions League 2022-23 season

Playmakers are the key who unlock the toughest of defenses with the most sublime passes.

With the Champions League reaching the final phase of the competition, the season has been full of team and individual performances. There have been many goal scorers who made their team go ahead at times and get the game settled, let’s not forget the players who make the final move before the goal reaches behind the net.

The assist is as important a part of goal contribution as it is to score a goal, so let’s take a look at all those playmakers who have been at the top of their game this season.

5. Lionel Messi – 04 assists

Position – Forward, Corners Taken – 15, Matches played – 07

The Argentinian forward was having an extraordinary year with his National team as he guided Argentina to the 3rd World Cup in Qatar and was looking to replicate his form in the biggest competition in Europe with the French side. He was thought to be the right man for the job since his arrival in the French Capital along with Neymar Jr. and Kylian Mbappe and this season were undefeated in Group H comprising Benfica, Juventus, and Makaiba Haifa which was no surprise considering the potential with the team.

Before they were knocked out by Bayern on a 3-0 aggregate in the round of 16, Messi has registered 04 assists and 04 goals contributing to 08 goals among 16 goals scored by the team in this campaign. Messi had attempted 15 corners in the 07 matches he played and had shown his capabilities as a playmaker beside the world-class forward he is.

4. Joao Cancelo – 05 assists

Position – Defender, Corners Taken – 00, Matches played - 10

The defender left the Cityzens in last summer to get more game time and joined German Champions. For his 01st season at the club, he has fared pretty well by assisting the most goals by Bayern Munich in the competition considering the amount of potential and variety in the team’s midfield and attack department. He has proved his signing and move to be worth the value since Bayern has now a defender along with Sane, Gnabry, Coman, De Ligt, and Goretzka to name a few.

Cancelo with Bayern have faced both the eventual finalist in this year’s campaign defeating Inter with an aggregate of 4-0 in group stages and losing to Man City 4-1 on aggregate in Quarter Finals.

3. Federico Dimarco – 05 assists

Position – Defender, Corners Taken – 18, Matches played - 10

The second defender on the list and this year’s finalist with Inter Milan is the Italian defender Dimarco. Inter were grouped with Barcelona and Bayern Munich in the group which they finished in second before facing Porto, Benfica, and AC Milan winning each of their competition and reaching the final.

Dimarco got his time to shine this season after starting his life in Inter as a youth in 2014 and spending his time on Loans across the league. He has not only contributed to 05 assists out of 19 goals scored but also maintained a clean sheet in 08 of 10 matches played which just tells you how important he has emerged for his team. Winning the ultimate silverware would be on his mind where to stop Manchester City would be a topsy turvy for the Nerazzurri’s.

2. Vinicius Junior – 06 assists

Position – Forward, Corners Taken – 01, Matches played – 12

The Champions League winner with Real Madrid last year was on full display this season as well where he was looking as fine as he has been since his arrival from Brazil. The forward has contributed to more goals (13 – 7 Goals and 6 assists) than in the games he’s been involved in (12 matches).

He has been the star for the defending champions and was scoring and assisting and making defenders go on a run for their worth before Man City and Walker got the better of the player. This season he stepped up his game and made a number of important contributions when Benzema looked out of touch at times which only gives a glimpse of his status at the club at just 22 years of age.

1. Kevin De Bruyne – 07 assists

Position - Midfielder, Corners Taken – 31, Matches played - 09

 The Belgium International has been the backbone for star-studded Manchester City. With the arrival of Phenomenal Erling Halland, he has formed a formidable partnership that has led them to the second final in 03 years. Kevin has just bossed the midfield with his presence and left the defense of the teams in shambles with his pinpoint passing and assists.

He has been an instrumental player this season to unfold Guardiola’s plan on the pitch and although he has just contributed to 2 goals in the season, his second goal was the most special at Madrid where he unleashed a strike from outside the box beating Courtois and leveling the scores. He would be a player to watch in the final as he single-handedly made Madrid suffer in the second leg and could go on to finally lift the trophy, he would have desired the most with the City. His display this season has put him up in the contentions of Best Player of the competition.