Europe's creative kings link up in midfield in Most Assists XI

Next up in our stat XI is looking at the creative stars across Europe's top five leagues. Key passes has been covered, so too has dribbles, goals and shots, so now take a look at who have provided the most assists by position, featuring stars from Barcelona, Liverpool and Bundesliga powerhouses Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund. 

Goalkeeper: Marc-Andre ter Stegen (Barcelona) - 2 assists 

Five goalkeepers have registered an assist in Europe's top five leagues this season - Alisson, Aaron Ramsdale, Jasper Cillessen, Ionut Radu and Marc-Andre ter Stegen. The latter is the only one of those five to have done so on more than one occasion. The Barcelona goalkeeper provided assists for goals by Luis Suarez and Antoine Griezmann in respective wins over Getafe and Mallorca. 

Right-back: Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool) - 12 

With nine games still to go in the Premier League season, Trent Alexander-Arnold has already matched his best assist return in a campaign, his most recent of which came for Sadio Mane in the Reds' 3-2 win over West Ham last month. Tasked with provided width in this Jurgen Klopp Liverpool side, Alexander-Arnold does so to great effect as his 12 assists suggests. 

Centre-back: Rafael Toloi (Atalanta) - 5 

Atalanta are one of the most exciting teams in Europe and while the likes of Alejandro Gomez and Josip Ilicic are stealing the plaudits, it's a centre-back who is the Serie A side's representative in this assist XI. Willing to turn provider in the final third, Brazilian Rafael Toloi has chipped in with five assists for Atalanta this season, that more than any other centre-back in Europe's top five leagues. 

Centre-back: Benjamin Hubner (Hoffenheim) - 3 

A number of centre-backs have provided three assists in their respective leagues this season, but having registered the fewest minutes, Benjamin Hubner partners Toloi at the heart of the defence. The defender has created three goals for Bundesliga side Hoffenheim this season, with two of those coming in his last three league outings. 

Left-back: Andrew Robertson (Liverpool) - 7 

The second of Liverpool's dynamic full-back duo, Andrew Robertson may not have earned the plaudits in the same manner as Alexander-Arnold, but is attacking output cannot be understated. He has seven Premier League assists to his name, with his most recent, like Alexander-Arnold, coming in the 3-2 win over West Ham last month. 

Central midfield: Thomas Muller (Bayern Munich) - 16 

Having started the season out of favour under Niko Kovac, Thomas Muller has become a key player with Hansi Flick at the Bayern Munich helm and is very much making up for lost time in Bavaria. No player has registered more assists than Muller (16) in Europe's top five leagues this season, 12 of which have come following Kovac's dismissal. 

Central midfield: Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City) - 16 

Sharing the record for the most assists in Europe's top five leagues this season, Kevin De Bruyne has been a creative force to be reckoned with for Manchester City as his 16 assists suggests. The Belgian has Thierry Henry's assist record in his sights provided the season can restart next month in the wake of the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic. 

Central midfield: Angel Di Maria (PSG) - 14 

Rounding off a very attacking midfield three, Angel Di Maria has again established himself as a key man for PSG this season, with his 14 assists at least seven more than any other player in Ligue 1. The Argentine is one of the more important players in Thomas Tuchel's squad, forming part of their Magic Square, consisting of Di Maria, Mauro Icardi, Neymar and Kylian Mbappe. 

Right wing: Jadon Sancho (Borussia Dortmund) - 15 

One of only two players to register double figures for both goals and assists in Europe's top five leagues this season, Jadon Sancho has been exceptional in this swashbuckling Borussia Dortmund side. The Englishman's 15 assists is behind only Muller and De Bruyne in Europe's top five leagues this season and has, impressively, provided an assist in all but three home league matches this season. 

Striker: Lionel Messi (Barcelona) - 12 

The other player to have double figures for goals and assists. Lionel Messi may be enduring a so-called off-season, but he remains his mercurial best in the final third as his 19 goals and 12 assists highlights. Six of those 12 assists came in February, including a hat-trick in their 3-2 win at Real Betis. 

Left wing: Thorgan Hazard (Borussia Dortmund) - 10 

A Hazard rounds off this XI on the left flank, and it isn't Eden. While the former Chelsea man has struggled with injuries at Real Madrid, his brother Thorgan has shone in this Borussia Dortmund XI and is, along with Sancho, one of only two players to reach double figures for assists in both the 2018/19 and 2019/20 Bundesliga seasons, five of which have come at home and five away from home.