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The Champions League is arguably the biggest stage in European football. Players have made a name for themselves over the years by performing big in the competition.
It is not just by scoring goals that recognition is achieved in the tournament, at least not in the 21st century. Playmaking has been a massive aspect of football and with time, it has got the acknowledgment and appreciation that it deserves.
The Champions League has seen some world-class playmakers
The challenges faced by footballers in this tournament have been so varied and different every single time. Despite such unpredictability, some of these players have stood out from others due to their individual brilliance.
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The Champions League has seen a number of top playmakers in its history. Some of them have turned out to be outstanding performers in setting up goals for their teammates. On that note, let's take a look at the players with the most assists in the Champions League to date.
#5 Xavi Hernandez & Neymar
Barcelona have provided some of the best playmakers in the history of the game. Xavi Hernandez and Neymar were two of their most effective creators in the last decade.
Xavi was quite the midfielder Barcelona had. With his incisive passing, smart tactical positioning and wonderful vision, the Spaniard was brutally effective for the Catalan club. In his 151 Champions League appearances, he registered 30 assists.
His former compatriot Neymar has been equally impressive in the tournament and has the same number of assists. The Brazilian registered 17 assists while playing for Barcelona and has 13 assists with his current club Paris Saint-Germain. With him still in the competition, he is likely to surpass Xavi this season itself.
#4 Ryan Giggs
Not many players have been as successful as Ryan Giggs has been in his career. The Welshman is one of the most decorated footballers of all time. He has 13 Premier League trophies, four FA Cups, two Champions League titles and many other trophies to his name.
During his time at Manchester United, Giggs was one of their most important players. Using his amazing pace, superb dribbling and brilliant creative abilities, the Welsh winger was involved in goals more often than not.
Giggs had a stunning time in the Champions League, registering 31 assists and helping United time and again. He holds the record for most goals scored by a British player in the tournament.
#3 Angel di Maria
The Champions League has witnessed a lot of creativity on the pitch this century and Angel di Maria has a big role to play in that. The Argentine attacker has been super productive for all the top clubs he has played for so far.
Di Maria was one of Real Madrid's best players when he played for Los Blancos from 2010 to 2014. His agility and flair combined with his fabulous dribbling and incredible vision make him a wonderful playmaker.
The Argentine is currently Paris Saint-Germain's all-time leader in assists with 110 assists. Di Maria's performances in the Champions League have been a delight to watch over the years. So far, he has registered 35 assists and can easily add more to his tally with time.
#2 Lionel Messi
It was very surprising when the great Lionel Messi decided to join Paris Saint-Germain and leave Barcelona last summer. After spending 17 seasons with the Catalan club, it was really heartbreaking to watch the Argentine leave the Spanish giants.
Messi has won the Champions League four times in his stellar career. It goes without saying how invaluable his performances have been in those triumphs. With eight hat-tricks to his name in the competition, no player has been able to achieve this feat so far.
Along with his goals, Messi has been a terrific creator on the pitch. The Argentine forward has to date registered 36 assists and has been a very reliable asset for his team and teammates.
#1 Cristiano Ronaldo
There aren't enough words to describe the greatness of Cristiano Ronaldo. The Portuguese superstar has achieved success at almost every club that he's played for.
Over the years, he has been a phenomenal performer in the Champions League. To date, Ronaldo holds the record for the most goals in the tournament with 140 goals to his name. The Portuguese forward has had a massive role in winning the five titles he has won so far.
Ronaldo holds the record for most appearances in the competition with 182 appearances to his name. So far, the Manchester United striker has registered 42 assists, the most by any player in the history of the tournament.
