Top 10 players with most assists in World Cup history ft. Lionel Messi & Thomas Muller

Lionel Messi and Diego Maradona lead the list for most assists.

The FIFA World Cup has been able to maintain its stature as football’s most prestigious tournament ever since its inception. From hosting its first tournament in 1930 in Uruguay to currently being in the mid-stages of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the competition has been widely regarded for its ability to bring fans together.

While nations are the ultimate limelight for the tournament, there have been certain players who have dominated the World Cup with their ability.

One such metric used to measure a player’s individual contribution is assists. Assists are considered as crucial as goals, as it ultimately paves the way to a goal. Despite the biggest names in footballing history gracing the competition, only a few have been able to etch their name in the record books for the most assists.

On that note, here is a list of the top 10 players with the most assists in World Cup history.

Players with the Most Assists in the World Cup

S.No.	Player Name	Nation	World Cup assists
10	David Beckham	England	6
9	Pelé	Brazil	6
8	Thomas Häßler	Germany	6
7	Bastian Schweinsteiger	Germany	6
6	Thomas Müller	Germany	6
5	Uwe Seeler	Germany	6
4	Pierre Littbarski	Germany	7
3	Grzegorz Lato	Poland	7
2	Diego Maradona	Argentina	8
1	Lionel Messi	Argentina	8

10. David Beckham (England) – 6

David Beckham has been widely considered one of the most influential players in English football. He represented England in three World Cups (1998, 2002, 2006), making 13 appearances, becoming the first English player to score in three tournaments. The Englishman managed to get six assists, with his best performance coming in the 2002 edition, recording three assists.

9. Pelé (Brazil) – 6

Considered as one of the greatest players in football history, Pelé has cemented his place as the greatest player to grace football’s grand stage. He is also the only player to win three World Cups, winning the title in 1958, 1962 and 1970 with Brazil. Despite official statistics recording six assists, various sources document Pelé having a higher number of assists.

8. Thomas Häßler (Germany) – 6

Thomas Häßler has been known for his illustrious career with West Germany, winning the World Cup in 1990. Nicknamed “Icke”, the attacking midfielder was renowned for his dribbling and accurate set-pieces. He holds the record for most assists in the 1994 World Cup, registering five assists across 5 appearances.

7. Bastian Schweinsteiger (Germany) – 6

Bastian Schweinsteiger has cemented his stature as one of the greatest German players to grace the pitch. Affectionately dubbed the “Fußballgott” (Football God) by fans, his career saw evolution from young winger to the indomitable force in the midfield. Making 20 appearances for Germany across three World Cups (2006, 2010, 2014), Schweinsteiger managed six assists in the tournament.

6. Thomas Müller (Germany) – 6

Thomas Müller has been one of the best players for Germany in the World Cup, registering 16 G/A across four different World Cup appearances. Known for his ability to exploit spaces, his national team stint in the tournament saw him register six assists. One of the most notable assists was during Germany’s 7-1 thrashing against Brazil, where he laid Toni Kroos for a goal.

5. Uwe Seeler (Germany) – 6

Uwe Seeler has cemented himself as one of the most influential players for West Germany. Known as “Uns Uwe” (Our Uwe), the legendary striker for his exceptional aerial ability and leadership capabilities. He was the first player in history to make 20 appearances in the World Cup.

He was also the first to score in four different World Cups. He managed to register six assists across his World Cup tenure. His assist for the equaliser against Italy in the 1970 FIFA World Cup helped West Germany ultimately win 4-3.

4. Pierre Littbarski (Germany) – 7

Pierre Littbarski was known for his explosive performances for West Germany, with fans often referring to him as “Litti”. Renowned for his Brazilian flair and dribbling skills, he represented West Germany in three different World Cups (1982, 1986, 1990). He ultimately won the trophy in 1990.

Littbarski managed to register seven assists across 18 appearances. The player is widely remembered for the 1982 World Cup in Spain. He accumulated an incredible five assists in that one alone.

3. Grzegorz Lato (Poland) – 7

Grzegorz Lato, one of the greatest Polish footballers, has been an instrumental figure for the Poland national football team. Known for his exceptional pace, Lato was crucial in Poland’s two third-place finishes in 1974 and 1982. He was also the only Polish player to win the World Cup Golden Boot, scoring seven goals in the 1974 edition

Lato registered a staggering seven assists, making him one of the most productive players in the tournament’s history.

2. Diego Maradona (Argentina) – 8

Diego Maradona is considered to be one of the greatest footballing icons. He made 21 appearances across four World Cups (1982, 1986, 1990, 1994). His 1986 World Cup performance in particular is widely regarded as one of the greatest performances.

Argentine managed 5 goals and 5 assists, ultimately winning the title. His most notable assist came during the 1986 final. He set up striker Jorge Burruchaga for the third goal, guiding Argentina to the title, after trailing 2-0.

1. Lionel Messi (Argentina) – 8

Lionel Messi will be looking to become the undisputed record assist holder during the 2026 edition. Messi has cemented his stature, becoming the player with the most appearances (26) and the most goal contributions, scoring 13 goals and providing 8 assists.

Lionel Messi is also the only player to register an assist in five separate World Cup editions. His most impressive stint was in 2022. He managed to score 7 goals and provide 3 assists, guiding Argentina to the side’s third World Cup title.

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