Most International Assists in Football History: Football history remembers the goal scorers. Their names light up scoreboards and fill highlight reels. But behind every great goal stands a creative genius who made it possible. These are the playmakers who see passes others miss. They thread balls through impossible gaps. Their vision turns ordinary attacks into moments of magic.
International football demands something special from its creators. The pressure weighs heavily. The stakes climb higher. Every pass must count when representing your country. Some players crumble under this weight. Others rise to become legends.
Most International Assists in Football History
Welcome to the pantheon of football’s greatest creators.
50. Roberto Baggio (Italy)
Total International Assists: 14
Italy’s divine ponytail created magic on the pitch. Baggio had this rare gift of seeing openings where others saw walls. His passes came with perfect timing. The 1994 World Cup showcased his creative genius. Fourteen assists don’t tell his full story.
49. Ivan Rakitić (Croatia)
Total International Assists: 16
Croatia’s midfield runs through Rakitić’s boots. He finds spaces that shouldn’t exist. His work rate never drops. The 2018 World Cup run proved his worth. Sixteen assists came from pure determination and vision.
48. Karim Benzema (France)
Total International Assists: 20
Benzema thinks like a number 10 trapped in a striker’s body. His hold-up play creates chances from nothing. France’s attack flows better with him. Twenty assists show his unselfish nature. Goals and assists both come naturally.
47. Toni Kroos (Germany)
Total International Assists: 21
Kroos sees the pitch like a chess master sees the board. His passes travel exactly where they need to go. Germany’s midfield relies on his precision. Twenty-one assists came from calculated perfection.
46. Wayne Rooney (England)
Total International Assists: 21
Rooney played with fire in his belly and ice in his veins. England’s captain delivered when pressure mounted. His passes carried the weight of expectation. Twenty-one assists matched his leadership qualities. Pure passion met technical brilliance.
45. Dani Alves (Brazil)
Total International Assists: 21
The right-back who thinks he’s a winger. Alves bombs forward with fearless abandon. Brazil’s attack gains extra width through his runs. His crosses arrive with surgical precision. Twenty-one assists from the defensive line speak volumes.
44. Frank Lampard (England)
Total International Assists: 22
Lampard arrived late but arrived perfectly. His timing in the box was supernatural. England benefited from his midfield intelligence. Twenty-two assists came from reading the game. Goals weren’t his only weapon.
43. Roberto Carlos (Brazil)
Total International Assists: 22
That left foot belonged in a museum. Carlos turned defending into an attacking art. Brazil gained an extra midfielder through his runs. His crosses curved like boomerangs returning home. Twenty-two assists from impossible angles.
42. Steven Gerrard (England)
Total International Assists: 23
Liverpool’s hero carried that same spirit to England. Gerrard delivered Hollywood passes with casual ease. His leadership inspired better performances around him. Twenty-three assists showed his complete midfield mastery.
41. Kaká (Brazil)
Total International Assists: 23
Kaká glided across pitches like a dancer on ice. His first touch was always perfect. Brazil’s attack moved faster with him pulling strings. Twenty-three assists came from elegant simplicity. Beauty and effectiveness in one player.
40. Xavi Hernández (Spain)
Total International Assists: 24
Spain’s metronome kept perfect time for a decade. Xavi could thread passes through the eye of a needle. Tiki-taka lived through his brain and boots. Twenty-four assists were built from patience and precision.
39. Franck Ribéry (France)
Total International Assists: 25
Ribéry scared defenders with his unpredictable dribbling. France found their creative spark through his magic. His left foot delivered crosses like guided missiles. Twenty-five assists came from pure street football instinct.
38. Zlatan Ibrahimović (Sweden)
Total International Assists: 25
Ibrahimović does everything with flair and controversy. Sweden’s lion roared loudest on big stages. His passes arrived with the same arrogance as his goals. Twenty-five assists matched his larger-than-life personality. Drama and brilliance intertwined.
37. Francesco Totti (Italy)
Total International Assists: 25
Rome’s emperor ruled from the number 10 position. Totti saw passes that existed only in his imagination. Italy benefited from his creative genius for years. His twenty-five assists came wrapped in Roman elegance. Poetry in motion on the grass.
36. Alessandro Del Piero (Italy)
Total International Assists: 27
Del Piero smiled while destroying defenses with precision passes. Italy’s creative jewel sparkled in crucial moments. His left foot painted masterpieces on football pitches. Twenty-seven assists showed his artistic touch.
35. Ronaldinho (Brazil)
Total International Assists: 29
Football became a party when Ronaldinho touched the ball. Brazil danced to his rhythm for years. His no-look passes left everyone stunned. Twenty-nine assists came with trademark smiles attached. Joy and skill in perfect harmony.
34. Miroslav Klose (Germany)
Total International Assists: 29
Klose scored goals and created them with equal precision. Germany’s World Cup hero understood team play perfectly. His movement opened spaces for creative passes. Twenty-nine assists complemented his record-breaking goals.
33. Zinedine Zidane (France)
Total International Assists: 29
Zidane turned football into high art with every touch. France’s maestro conducted symphonies on green stages. His passes arrived with ballet dancer grace. Twenty-nine assists flowed from pure footballing genius.
32. Darijo Srna (Croatia)
Total International Assists: 30
Srna’s right foot was Croatia’s secret weapon for years. His crosses found targets with mathematical precision. The captain led by example from right-back position. Thirty assists came from tireless dedication. Heart and technique combined beautifully.
31. Johan Cruyff (Netherlands)
Total International Assists: 30
Cruyff invented Total Football and lived it every game. Holland’s philosopher changed how the world viewed the sport. His passes came with revolutionary thinking attached. Thirty assists built the foundation of Dutch football.
30. Luka Modrić (Croatia)
Total International Assists: 30
Modrić ages like fine wine, getting better yearly. Croatia’s captain controls games from deep positions. His range of passing covers every blade of grass. Thirty assists prove his midfield mastery continues.
29. Andrés Iniesta (Spain)
Total International Assists: 30
Iniesta moved through tight spaces like water through cracks. Spain’s World Cup hero created magic in small areas. His close control made impossible passes look routine. Thirty assists came from pure technical perfection.
28. Thierry Henry (France)
Total International Assists: 30
Henry terrorized defenses with pace and intelligence combined. France’s striker created as many goals as he scored. His movement opened channels for perfect passes. Thirty assists showed his complete forward play.
27. Andrés Guardado (Mexico)
Total International Assists: 31
Guardado has been Mexico’s heartbeat for over a decade. El Tri’s veteran brings experience to every tournament. His vision creates opportunities in crucial World Cup moments. Thirty-one assists span multiple generations of Mexican football.
26. Ángel Di María (Argentina)
Total International Assists: 32
Di María runs at defenders like his life depends on it. Argentina’s winger creates chaos with every sprint forward. His left foot delivers crosses with pinpoint accuracy. Thirty-two assists came from pure determination and speed.
25. David Silva (Spain)
Total International Assists: 32
Silva weaved through defenses like a master craftsman. Spain’s golden generation relied on his creativity. His first touch always found the perfect angle. Thirty-two assists built Spain’s European and World Cup success.
24. Mohamed Salah (Egypt)
Total International Assists: 33
Salah carries Egypt’s hopes on his lightning-fast shoulders. The Pharaoh’s pace creates problems for any defense. His crosses arrive with Liverpool-trained precision. Thirty-three assists showcase his complete attacking threat.
23. Memphis Depay (Netherlands)
Total International Assists: 33
Depay brings flair and fire to Holland’s orange army. His confidence never wavers in pressure situations. The winger’s crosses bend like his free kicks. Thirty-three assists came from raw talent meeting hard work. The Dutch showman.
22. Dries Mertens (Belgium)
Total International Assists: 33
Mertens proves size doesn’t matter in modern football. Belgium’s pocket rocket explodes into dangerous spaces. His left foot creates magic from any position. Thirty-three assists helped Belgium reach new heights. Small player, massive impact.
21. Arjen Robben (Netherlands)
Total International Assists: 34
Robben cut inside so often defenders knew it was coming. Holland’s bald speedster still beat them every time. His left foot delivered crosses with robotic precision. Thirty-four assists came from the same predictable-but-unstoppable move. One trick, perfectly executed.
20. Robert Lewandowski (Poland)
Total International Assists: 35
Lewandowski leads Poland’s attack with strength and intelligence. The striker’s hold-up play creates space for teammates. His passes come with the same precision as his finishing. Thirty-five assists prove he’s more than just goals. Complete striker mentality.
19. Cesc Fàbregas (Spain)
Total International Assists: 36
Fàbregas grew up passing the ball in Barcelona’s academy. Spain’s midfielder found teammates in the tightest spaces. His vision worked like a GPS for perfect through balls. Thirty-six assists built Spain’s golden era foundations. The pass master from La Masia.
18. Eden Hazard (Belgium)
Total International Assists: 36
Hazard dribbled past defenders like they were training cones. Belgium’s captain created magic with every touch. His close control made impossible angles look easy. Thirty-six assists flowed from pure technical brilliance. The Belgian maestro at work.
17. Kylian Mbappé (France)
Total International Assists: 37
Mbappé’s speed breaks the sound barrier regularly. France’s future superstar creates chances through pure pace. His crosses arrive before defenders can react. Thirty-seven assists and counting for the young phenomenon. Lightning in a blue shirt.
16. Antoine Griezmann (France)
Total International Assists: 38
Griezmann celebrates assists like goals because they matter equally. France’s versatile forward thinks team-first always. His movement between lines opens passing channels. Thirty-eight assists helped France win the World Cup. The little prince delivers.
15. Pelé (Brazil)
Total International Assists: 38
Pelé created goals as easily as he scored them. Brazil’s king played football like he invented it. His vision saw decades before others could. Thirty-eight assists from the greatest player ever. The standard all others chase.
14. Luis Suárez (Uruguay)
Total International Assists: 39
Suárez bites into games with unmatched hunger. Uruguay’s striker creates chances through sheer willpower. His passes carry the same intensity as his tackles. Thirty-nine assists came from a never-give-up attitude.
13. Mesut Özil (Germany)
Total International Assists: 40
Özil’s eyes see passes that don’t exist yet. Germany’s creative genius made the impossible look routine. His through balls arrived with surgical timing. Forty assists helped Germany conquer the world in 2014.
12. Thomas Müller (Germany)
Total International Assists: 41
Müller appears in spaces that shouldn’t exist on football pitches. Germany’s space interpreter finds gaps everywhere. His passes come from studying the game’s geometry. Forty-one assists prove football intelligence beats pure talent.
11. Alexis Sánchez (Chile)
Total International Assists: 41
Sánchez runs at full speed for ninety minutes straight. Chile’s warrior never stops creating chances for teammates. His work rate creates opportunities through pure effort. Forty-one assists came from unlimited energy reserves.
10. Riyad Mahrez (Algeria)
Total International Assists: 42
Mahrez’s left foot is registered as a lethal weapon. Algeria’s winger cuts inside like a master surgeon. His crosses bend the laws of physics regularly. Forty-two assists helped Algeria win the African Cup. The magician from Leicester.
9. David Beckham (England)
Total International Assists: 42
Beckham’s right foot was England’s most reliable weapon. His crosses arrived with GPS-guided precision every time. Set pieces became penalties with him taking them. Forty-two assists came from practiced perfection.
8. Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal)
Total International Assists: 45
Ronaldo creates goals when he’s not busy scoring them. Portugal’s machine delivers assists with robotic efficiency. His crosses come with the same power as his shots. Forty-five assists prove he’s the complete package. Goals and assists in equal measure.
7. Luis Figo (Portugal)
Total International Assists: 46
Figo turned the right wing into his personal highway. Portugal’s golden boy delivered crosses like love letters. His technique never failed under pressure situations. Forty-six assists came from hours of wing play perfection. The Portuguese prince of assists.
6. Sándor Kocsis (Hungary)
Total International Assists: 50
Kocsis headed goals and threaded passes with equal skill. Hungary’s golden team relied on his complete play. His assists came from reading the game perfectly. Fifty assists prove he was more than just goals. The complete forward of his era.
5. Kevin De Bruyne (Belgium)
Total International Assists: 52
De Bruyne’s passes travel faster than most players run. Belgium’s midfield engine never stops creating chances. His vision works like radar scanning for teammates. Fifty-two assists and counting for the ginger genius. The pass master general supreme.
4. Ferenc Puskás (Hungary)
Total International Assists: 53
Puskás scored goals and created them with that magical left foot. Hungary’s galloping major dominated world football completely. His passes came with the same power as his shots. Fifty-three assists from the original superstar. The left foot of God.
3. Landon Donovan (United States)
Total International Assists: 59
Donovan carried American soccer on his determined shoulders. The USA’s golden boy created chances in crucial World Cup moments. His passes built the foundation of American football. Fifty-nine assists changed soccer in America forever. The American dream in boots.
2. Neymar (Brazil)
Total International Assists: 59
Neymar dances past defenders while threading perfect passes. Brazil’s showman creates samba magic in yellow shirts. His skills make football look like performance art. Fifty-nine assists came with trademark celebrations attached. The Brazilian party continues.
1. Lionel Messi (Argentina)
Total International Assists: 61
Messi sees football moves five seconds before they happen. Argentina’s little genius creates goals from impossible positions. His left foot paints masterpieces on grass canvases. Sixty-one assists crown him the ultimate creator. The greatest playmaker ever walks among us.
