Messi, Ronaldo & Neymar included – The most assists in Champions League history

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Since re-naming in 1992 

©TM/IMAGO

The Champions League is back after a three-week hiatus due to the international break and it’s reached a pivotal stage of the new league phase. The re-formatting of the most prestigious club tournament has divided opinion but the last four games before the knockout stages should be incredibly exciting due to the increased jeopardy. 

Liverpool are the only side with a perfect record and they welcome Real Madrid to Anfield on Wednesday night with the holders in serious danger of failing to secure automatic qualification to the last 16. Some of the most famous faces in modern football have not only graced, but shone, on the Champions League stage including Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney. The competition is the pinnacle for many players but which stars have provided the most assists in the Champions League since it was re-named from the European Cup for the 1992/23 season? Let’s find out and you can scroll the gallery below – qualifiers are not included.

Cristiano Ronaldo is the record goalscorer in Champions League history with 140 but he’s also provided the most assists, according to Transfermarkt data. The legendary Portuguese attacker provided 48 assists across 183 appearances for Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus in the competition. Ryan Giggs, Ronaldo’s former teammate at Old Trafford, and Barcelona legend Messi are level with 45 assists but the Welshman delivered them in fewer games than the Argentinian. 

 Messi is joined by his international colleague Ángel Di María in the top five with the Benfica star and Thomas Müller the only two top ten stars playing in the competition this year. Man United legend David Beckham completes the top five with the right-winger providing 38 assists across 107 games. Spanish duo Raúl and Xavi both feature with Neymar possessing the best assists per game ratio of all the players in the top ten.