The UEFA Champions League is the premier club competition and arguably the biggest prize in European football. With a plethora of world class sides jousting to be crowned champions of the continent, it is widely regarded as one of the best and most prestigious tournaments.
The UCL has given birth to generations of legends, whose legacies have left a lasting impact on the footballing world. It has always set the stage for some incredible contests and rivalries, including the eternal GOAT debate between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
This article enlists the players who, with their incredible creativity and visionary passing, cemented themselves as some of the best playmakers in the history of the game. Here are the five players with the most assists in the competition after it was rebranded from the European Cup to the UEFA Champions League in 1992 (all stats via Transfermarkt):
#5 David Beckham
The English midfielder is considered by many as one of the best players of his generation. He played for multiple top European sides in the UCL, including his boyhood club Manchester United, record champions Real Madrid, AC Milan, and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG).
He managed a total of 38 assists in 107 appearances in the competition (eight for Real, 30 for United).
#4 Angel Di Maria
Argentina’s hero and Lionel Messi’s partner-in-crime in the 2021 Copa America and 2022 FIFA World Cup finals, the silky winger is considered to be one of the best players in the history of the Champions League.
Di Maria suited up for Benfica, PSG, Real Madrid and Juventus in the competition, bagging 40 assists in 111 appearances (two for Benfica, three for Juve, 14 for Real, 23 for PSG). At the age of 36, he is still going strong with the Portuguese giants, with a goal in four appearances thus far in the 2024-25 UCL campaign.
#3 Lionel Messi
Messi is regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of the game and has an incredible legacy in Europe’s top competition. The Argentine maestro has the most man-of-the-match awards in the UCL since 2009, winning it on a whopping 67 occasions in 130 appearances (via @ThePopFoot on X).
Playing for Barcelona and PSG, Messi racked up 45 assists in 163 UCL games (four for PSG, 41 for Barca). He is also the tournament’s second highest goalscorer of all time with 129 goals, just 11 shy of arch-rival Cristiano Ronaldo.
Messi now plies his trade for Major League Soccer side Inter Miami.
#2 Ryan Giggs
The Welsh legend is arguably one of the best players in the history of Manchester United. A one-club man, he commandeered the Red Devils to incredible success in England and Europe in a glittering 24-year career at Old Trafford.
He not only ended up as the top assister in Premier League history (162 in 632 appearances), but also as the second-highest in the UCL with 45 in 145 games. His playmaking also played an instrumental role in helping a young Cristiano Ronaldo evolve into a world-class player, and eventually overtake him as the top UCL assister of all time.
#1 Cristiano Ronaldo
Widely regarded as the greatest player in the history of the Champions League, the Portuguse talisman was the complete package in Europe’s apex tournament.
Ronaldo played for three clubs in the UCL – Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus. He ended up as the top goalscorer in the competition, with 140 goals in 183 appearances.
While his goalscoring was other-worldly, Ronaldo’s playmaking wasn’t far behind either. He still remains atop the assists chart, with 48 in total (five for Juventus, 12 for United, 31 for Real Madrid).
Aged 39, Ronaldo now plays for Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr.