Top five players with most assists in international football history

Club games are more common and a regular occurrence in football. International football, on the other hand, is a completely different ball game.  At the club level, players are bought in regarding the strategies or style of play of the club or more importantly geared towards the manager at the helm at that time. The players spend a significant amount of time in conditioning and training all year long.

However, international football matches and even tournaments are a brief part of that year. In a very short amount of time, players need to work together in and out of the pitch to produce a desirable football result. As a result, scoring goals and providing assists become even more crucial. In the fleeting world of international football, it makes a huge difference if a nation is blessed with a player who can provide assist after assist.

In this article, we will go through the top five all-time assist leaders in international football history

5. Sándor Péter Kocsis - 50 assists

With 50 assists, the former Hungarian forward from Budapest stands in fifth place. Although Sándor Péter Kocsis had dual citizenship to Spain and Hungary, the talisman appeared 68 times for the latter. Kocsis scored 82 goals while playing for Spanish side FC Barcelona from 1958 to 1965.

4. Ferenc Puskás - 53 assists

Ferenc Puskás is another Hungarian who has achieved international recognition for his nation. Every calendar year, the Puskás Award is given to the player of any gender who scores the most aesthetically pleasing goal. This award was created to honor Ferenc Puskás, a legend of both Real Madrid and the Hungarian national team. His 53 assists in the international match continue to rank in the top three in the 21st century of football.

3. Lionel Messi - 57 assists

The 2022 FIFA World Cup champion joined Inter Miami in the United States this summer, leaving Europe. But he's already made his mark on the world stage. Lionel Messi was the driving force behind nearly everything Argentina produced on their path to winning the World Cup last year. Messi currently has 57 assists under his belt in international competition.

2. Neymar Jr. - 58 assists

The Saudi Pro League may not have witnessed his flair just yet, but on the international scene Neymar has broken several records. He first surpassed Pele to become Brazil's all-time leading scorer, and his assist in the most recent match against Peru brought him one step closer to becoming the world's top assist leader in September 2023. The 31-year-old is still crucial to his nation and is likely to pass the leader in a few games.

1. Landon Donovan - 58 assists

Given that players like Neymar, Ronaldo, and Messi were competing, the list's top spot was most likely unexpected. With 58 assists, Landon Donovan stands tall on the global stage. This establishes him as the king of making assists in the international game. Donovan has played for his country 157 times and scored 57 goals, making him a star in the United States. He is notable for having played for Bayern Munich, Everton, and Bayer Leverkusen.

Cover Credits - Sky Sports