Chelsea once almost signed a player with more assists in 2024 than Salah

It’s easy to focus on goals when evaluating the best players in the modern game, but which individuals have the most assists across Europe in 2024?

Another 12 months of fascinating football is almost over, with plenty of drama unfolding domestically, in Europe and on the international stage.

Forward of Sporting CP Viktor Gyokeres scored the most goals in Europe 2024 to date, but who was the leading assist in Europe’s top leagues? With the help of data from Transfermarkthere are 17 of the best…

17

Angel Di Maria (Benfica)

18 assists

He may be 36, but Angel Di Maria is still performing at a top level and the Argentine is having a great year back Benfica after returning in the summer of 2023.

He registered a total of 18 assists in all competitions in 2024, and probably should have been a lot more, with just six assists in 2024/25, but a great start to the calendar year last time saw Di Maria shine for runners-up Primeira Liga.

16

Bruno Fernandes (Man Utd)

18 assists

Bruno Fernandes has his critics from time to time, perhaps for losing possession too often, but the risk he takes with the ball allows him to create many chances as well.

For this reason, it is not a big surprise to see Manchester United captain on this list, with the Portuguese assisting on 18 occasions and showing further signs of improvement under the new manager Reuben Amorim.

15

Lamine Yamal (Barcelona)

18 assists

The rise of one of the most prodigiously gifted young footballers on the planet, Lamine Yamal, has been remarkable this year, with the 17-year-old excelling for Barcelona and Spain.

While the winger has scored some great goals over the past 12 months, his passing also stands out, not least his brilliance with the outside of his gifted left foot. 18 assists in 47 appearances is an excellent return for any striker, let alone one so young.

14

Joel Bopesu (Zalgiris)

18 assists

Žalgiris defender Joel Bopesu finished at the top of the Lithuanian league assists list, thanks to his exploits in the national cup and this year’s Conference League qualifications, which equaled the best in Europe.

A champion with Žalgiris, who won the annual championship that ended in November, Bopesu notched 14 in the league campaign alone, representing one of the most potent threats on the continent from left-back.

13

Omar Marmoush (Eintracht Frankfurt)

18 assists

Omar Marmoush has been linked with a number of top clubs in recent months, and given the level of his performances for Eintracht Frankfurt, it is not difficult to see why he is such a sought-after man.

The Egyptian is another with a total of 18 assists, plus seven of those coming in 15 Bundesliga appearances this season and he’s also a goalscoring machine for good measure, netting 13 times in the league in 2024/25 to date.

12

Oscar Gloukh (RB Salzburg)

18 assists

Tied with the same number of goals and assists as Marmoush is Israeli forward Oscar Gloukh, who continues to stand out as one of the most influential creative forces in the Austrian Bundesliga, providing plenty of attacking quality for RB Salzburg.

The talented 20-year-old also registered 18 assists in 2024, with an average of 0.45 per game, which is an impressive ratio.

11

Vladimir Ambros (Petrocub)

18 assists

Top assists in 2024 include Petrocub striker Vladimir Ambros, whose assist in the final round of the League Stage of the Conference League helped Hearts break hearts after both clubs were relegated.

Ambros had a particularly impressive end to the previous campaign, grabbing six assists in the league and a further five in the Moldovan Cup as Petrocub secured a domestic double.

10

Jorginho (FC Differdange 03)

18 assists

Like Marmoush, Jorginho is another player who has been relentless in front of goal this year, but the creative side of his game has also shone through, ensuring he is with illustrious company in an assistant role.

The Differdange 03 forward has registered 18 assists so far in 2024, which comes from a total of 35 appearances for the Luxembourg-based side.

9

Zlatko Tripić (Viking)

18 assists

Zlatko Tripić is one of the lesser-known players on this list, but he enjoyed a great 2024 himself, attracting the attention of Norwegian outfit Viking.

The tally of 18 assists in just 29 games is better than those already mentioned, with an excellent ratio of one every 0.62 games. Judging by the video above, last year wasn’t great – and at 32, he seems to be aging like fine wine.

8

Trincao (Sporting CP)

19 assists

Viktor Gyokeres may have been the star player for Sporting CP last year, both in terms of scoring and creativity, but his teammate Trincao was just as prolific when it came to scoring goals.

The 24-year-old had 19 assists in 2024 and his quality on the outside has played a huge part in his side’s success over the last 12 months or so as Sporting marched to domestic glory.

7

Dusan Tadic (Fenerbahce)

19 assists

At 36, Dušan Tadic may not be the force he once was during his Ajax days, and it’s fair to say he’s still going strong as the creative center of his Fenerbahce side.

The Serb has 6 assists in 14 starts in the Turkish Super League this season, suggesting that his impact on the Turkish giants shows no signs of fading any time soon.

6

Vinicius Junior (Real Madrid)

19 assists

Vinicius Junior his status as one of the best players in the world is undeniable, with some feeling that he deserved to win Golden ball earlier this year.

An attacking sensation who can score and create at will from his left wing role, the Brazilian superstar failed to record just 20 assists at the end of the year, and in 2024. Real Madrid another victory for the side Champions League crown.

5

Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City)

19 assists

Kevin De Bruyne’s performances may have been lacking Manchester City recently, with signs that he is past his absolute prime, but the fact that he made the cut sums up his brilliance.

The Belgian has registered 19 assists in 2024, and if Pep Guardiola’s side are to have any chance of returning to the Premier League race, they will need to return to their prime.

4

Viktor Gyokeres (Sporting CP)

20 assists

After comfortably becoming Europe’s top goalscorer during 2024, Viktor Gyokeres’ stock rose further last year, potentially ahead of a valuable exit from Sporting at the end of the season.

However, the Swede is far from being just a scorer, which is highlighted by his number of assists of 20, and he has the potential to be one of the best strikers in world football in the next four or five years.

3

Alejandro Grimaldo (Bayer Leverkusen)

21 assists

The only player to register exactly 21 assists across Europe in 2024 is Alejandro Grimaldo, who was the key man during an unforgettable year for Bayer Leverkusen, helping them win the Bundesliga title.

The 29-year-old has provided endless quality from his left-wing role for Xabi Alonso’s side, producing a level of creative quality that his manager would have been proud of during his playing days.

2

Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)

23 assists

Still one of the most devastating strikers in world football, Mohamed Salah has had another stunning year, particularly since August, where his performances have helped inspire Liverpool to the top Premier League table.

Although the Egyptian icon is known mainly for his relentlessness in front of goal, the creative side of his game is also world class, with 13 assists recorded in 18 league matches this season.

On this form, Salah must be in contention for the Ballon d’Or – he has 30 goals in the Premier League alone and has Liverpool on course for a quadruple at the start of 2025.

1

Dries Mertens (Galatasaray)

27 assists

Incredibly, 37-year-old Dries Mertens recorded the most assists in Europe during 2024, with a total of 27 assists.

Belgian, who once almost signed for Chelsea in 2020defied time and continued to be a fantastic attacking player at Galatasaray, s a total of eight assists reaching the Super League and Europa League so far this season.

Few would have expected that at the beginning of the year, he would be the first on the list.