The players with the most assists in international football history

Lionel Messi is no stranger to breaking records and the Argentina icon was at it again during the international break.

Messi helped orchestrate a 6-0 win for Argentine against Puerto Rico, assisting goals for Gonzalo Montiel and Lautaro Martinez as the world champions ran riot. In the process, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner became the first footballer to reach 60 international assists.

– Wednesday, 15 October 2025

Following Messi’s latest milestone, we’ve ranked the footballers with the most assists in international football history.

Part of Hungary’s fabled Mighty Magyars side, Kocsis was incredibly involved in 126 goals in just 68 caps. In addition to scoring better than a goal-per-game for the national side (75), which included an 11-goal haul to win the 1954 World Cup Golden Boot, Kocsis created 51 goals for teammates that included Ferenc Puskas and Zoltán Czibor.

Puskas starred alongside Kocsis for that legendary Hungary side. ‘The Galloping Major’ provided 53 assists in addition to his national record of 84 goals in 85 international matches.

The most famous of the Mighty Magyars side, he helped Hungary to the 1952 Olympic gold medal and World Cup final two years later. Best remembered for his club career at Real Madrid, where Puskas scored 242 goals in 262 games and won three European Cups, his 53 international assists is a joint-European record.

Kevin De Bruyne shares the record for the most international assists by a European player. The midfielder has notched up 53 in 115 caps for the Red Devils, having been recognised as one of world football’s best creators.

De Bruyne is a three-time winner of the Premier League Playmaker of the Season award and has also led the Bundesliga for assists in a season.

Neymar has averaged better than a goal involvement per game during a decorated career with the Brazilian national team. Having made his debut as a teenager, Neymar broke Pele’s record as Brazil’s leading scorer in 2023. He currently has 79 goals and 58 assists in 128 appearances for the Selecao.

The poster boy of American football during his time with The Stars and Stripes, Landon Donovan is both the USA’s leading scorer (57 – joint with Clint Dempsey) and leading assist provider.

He is often considered the greatest men’s player in US history and also holds the MLS assist record.

Messi is the first footballer to reach 60 assists at international level after recording a brace of assists this week.

For many, the Argentinean is football’s greatest ever talent and a record of 114 goals and 60 assists for La Albiceleste is a strong argument for that.

After a challenging start to his international career, Messi has led a decorated era for the national team. Alongside Copa America triumphs in 2021 and 2024, he inspired Argentina to World Cup glory in 2022, winning the tournament’s Golden Ball.

Read – The biggest shock results in the October international break

See more – Five top players in danger of missing the 2026 World Cup

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