THE INFINITECREATIVE: Top 10 Best Creators In Futbol (Right Now...Again)
We begin again:
The top creators in world futbol have been at it again and where they go, we follow. Lists are always fucked. Someone always gets shafted or feels aggrieved by being dropped or raised. This isn't a popularity contest or who is the flashiest. We are basing this purely on who the best all around creative players are.
THE METRIC
- total number of assists
- total number of chances created
- difficulty of opposition
- consistency in creation
- difficulty of play (EXAMPLE: a fullback with 5 assists and the same number of key passes as a forward with 5 assists would climb over the forward, due to the fullback's enhanced responsibility and deeper positioning
AUTHORS NOTE
Sorry To David Silva, who goes from #2 on the previous list, to missing out completely, playing little minutes against Bournemouth and in a 66 minute appearance had 1 key pass vs Watford. This, combined with his low assists total, forces him to depart the list and other, more statistically firing players (of which there are many) needed to take his space.
Also, the player's nation will only be listed next to the player's club if they have achieved at least 1 assist in any match for their country, such is the reason that some players have their country listed next to their name and others do not.
HONORABLE MENTIONS
The young German takes over the Bayer spot left by Kai Havertz, who has dropped from the top 10 and out altogether due to some listless performances creatively (Kai still managed to score last match).
Julian Brandt has been on the cusp of this list, being yet another unlucky creator on the season, dishing key balls in behind automatically, only to watch them be frustratingly wasted. 39 total key passes and only 5 total assists highlights the awful finishing from Brandt's chance creation. With 4 key passes in Bayer's last match against Nurenburg, with 0 assists to show for it, one can only hope one of these days Brandt gets his justice in the final third.
OVERALL:
5 assists
No assist on the weekend and only a tepid single key pass, although the Brazilian was instrumental yet again in securing a point for PSG. He really has been on form goalscoring-wise, but the fact he only has 5 assists in Ligue 1 is a shame. The league is so far beneath Neymar's talents, yet he fails to deliver the astounding statistical insanity we had expected.
OVERALL:
5 Assists in Ligue 1
1 Assist in UCL
6 Assists for Brazil
FLORIAN NEUHAUS (Borussia Monchengladbach)
The deep lying young German youth international has had a magical start to his first big season in top tier futbol. The 21 year old has had 6 Bundesliga assists in his last 9 matches overall, adding another goal scored in the German cup. Usually placed in a combative midfield role, his versatility is evident when Neuhaus is freed up by an interior midfield role. He excels, such as in his 2 assist masterclass against the most in form Bundesliga team (outside of Dortmund) Frankfurt, helping his team to a 3-1 victory with 3 overall key passes.
We have him on this list because: you add in his tender age and experience level, his 6 assists in the German top flight (in only 12 appearances), his deeper positioning and his team's success based on his creativity.
OVERALL:
6 Bundesliga assists in 12 overall appearances (all starts)
16 key passes in 888 minutes
With 71 total key passes, Payet leads Europe in chances created, yet hasn't registered an assist since October 28th. Even still, the Frenchman creates continuously and still has 7 assists on the season, averaging over 3.5 key passes in each competition. Unlucky, has been out injured, but hasn't lost his assists-driven touch.
OVERALL:
6 assists
CRAZY STAT: In December and January of 2017, as Payet moved back to Marseille, he led the Premier league in key passes. It was only until April 2017 when City's Kevin De Bruyne finally overtook him in the lead: a full four months out of the league and he was still leading it, such is his overlooked prolific majesty.
AARON RAMSEY (Arsenal)
With a double off of the bench in the madhouse North London derby, Ramsey now brings his tally to an impressive 6 assists in only 904 minutes of total pitch time (most players who've played 3/4 of the season or more are averaging around 2100+ minutes). His assist to Aubameyang (in the Tottenham match), with that wonderful one touch flick pass he pulled off after latching on to a long through ball, completely shattered Mauricio Pochettino's back four. When Alli got into Ramsey's face before half-time (Ramsey was a substitute at the time) he must've demanded to be on the pitch and Arsenal gaffer Unai Emery must've seen in his eyes that he had to put him on. Aaron Ramsey, if he leaves Arsenal, would be a giant miss, especially with the out of sorts Ozil festering on the outer limits of the Arsenal squad. He will be out injured for a spell after picking up a knock against United.
OVERALL:
6 assists, all in the Premier league
SUSO (AC Milan)
Despite leading European leagues in assisting with 8 (2 for Spain to go with it) Suso has struggled since his return from international duty and has maintained a single-minded all around game with fluffy layoffs and aimless crossing going to waste. This clearly shows that when he's on, he's creating goals and most likely leading his team to victory. But if he isn't getting assists, Suso adds almost nothing else, eschewing build-up play as well. The Spaniard hasn't had an assist in his last 6 matches for club and country, which sees the Spaniard fall out of the top 10. On the positive side, Suso has achieved 5 key passes in his last 128 minutes of play.
OVERALL:
8 Serie A assists
2 assists for Spain
ANTOINE GRIEZMANN (Atletico Madrid)
One of the better creative forwards in the world, Griezmann used to be a shoot first winger, cutting inside from the left at Real Sociedad and scoring in the teens, with his assists totals always languishing around the 4 or 5 mark.
Well, needless to say, that has changed as the French and Atletico talisman evolves into an all around, intensity-driven danger man anywhere on the pitch.
Griezmann was woeful in front of goal at the World Cup (unless you count penalties and Fernando Muslera's hands) and thus turned provider, with 3 assists in the final three knockout round matches showing his all around dead ball abilities, especially in the clutch (all three of those goals were the respective differences in all three matches, most likely giving France the World Cup). He has continued this into the season, with a renewed scoring touch and non stop chance conjuring, chaos causing endeavors for Diego Simeone's team.
Thanks to Griezmann's evolution, we have seen a far more expansive and possessive Atletico Madrid this season.
OVERALL:
5 assists in La Liga
2 assists in the UCL
42 key passes for club
11 key passes in Nations League Play for France
OUSMANE DEMBELE (Barca)
With 4 assists in his last 7 matches, Dembele is one of the ultimate in form players. He was bagging in goal after goal, 7 on the season, before he notched his first assist off of the bench against Real Madrid in his first ever Clasico. He then proceeded to get an assist in his next match, the only goal in a Copa Del Rey fight with Cultural Leonesa, then was benched by Ernesto Valverde for two matches, the media (aided by his own club) went after him, he went away with France and barely played and then was only trusted with 10 minutes against Atletico and scored the only Barca goal, saving them from a 1-0 defeat in the dying moments and has now returned with a vengeance to his creative ways with an assist in his last two matches to go alongside his otherworldly play. We've been waiting for Dembele to light it up creatively and he's finding his feet now, too. As Messi and Dembele continue their development together, with Coutinho not far off, as well and all three Barca attackers should be expected to climb higher on this list.
OVERALL
4 assists for Barca
THE LIST
10. THORGAN HAZARD (Borrusia Monchengladbach)
We live in a day and age of many firsts, and one of them includes the Hazard brothers in 2018. The first 1st of the First: they joined the pitch together in the World Cup for Belgium, then Eden stole the headlines for the first few months with scorching performances and that outrageous goal vs Liverpool.
But now, here comes little brother to stake his own claim as one of the best players in world futbol at the moment. Thorgan doesn't make my top 20 best players in the world list, he may not make my top 30, but what the younger Hazard has shown is consistently and durability. He has never been jealous of his older brother's ascendancy and has focused on making himself better, growing as a player with each passing season and evolving into the truly unique, jack-of-all-trades attacking midfielder we see starting for Belgium now (even in De Bruyne's absence, who would've thought that?).
And who would dare say he doesn't deserve his spot in the Belgian attack with De Bruyne out? Add 11 goals in all competitions, plus his opening brace for Belgium against Switzerland (the only good thing for his side in the match, a 5-2 crucible to the Swiss) and you've got one of the top 5 most in form players in the World.
OVERALL:
6 assists for club
1 assist for Belgium (another key pass vs Scotland was hit off of the post by Kompany)
2.1 key passes a match
40 Overall Chances Created for club and country
9th overall in Europe in chances created
With yet another assist vs Arsenal in an outrageous North London derby, Eriksen was really the only bright spot for Tottenham on a day they'll want to forget. He then continued his exploits against Southampton, with another assist to open the scoring. With another 2 chances created, including conjuring Lucas Moura's goal from a chaos inducing corner kick. Eriksen's devastation from set pieces can never be tallied accurately, he's simply amassed many goals from his set pieces, whether directly credited with creating the goals, or not.
This keeps his streak alive of 8 assists across 13 total starts in all competitions for the Dane, adding another assist in a friendly for Denmark and 4 assists in his last 4 matches for Tottenham. Truly on fire...
OVERALL:
8 assists for club
1 assist for Denmark
Fraser had 2 key passes, but no assists for Bournemouth in a subdued creative performance vs City, as most of his energy was devoted to stopping Raheem Sterling.
But vs Huddersfield in the week, Fraser continued his stunning form with his 7th league assist and yet another goal, creating both goals in the 2-1 win for the Cherries. With 2 key passes in both of his last two matches since the last list, Fraser continues his stunning, underrated form. The only thing that seems to keep the Scottish lightning rod from producing goals is his defensive duties, which he aggressively adheres to, showing his profound unselfishness in what he will do for his club.
Is he this good? The better question is: When will he...or...can he... be stopped?
OVERALL:
11 assists total:
7 assists in the Premier League (joint leader)
1 assist in the CC Cup
3 assists for Scotland in Nations League play
7. RIYAD MAHREZ (Man City)
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| Mahrez has been unbelievable, raising his bar and status with his move to City, a quite remarkable achievement for the former EPL Player of the Season. Mahrez is already used to blowing minds. |
With a center back splitting cross that Sane chested in against Watford, Mahrez is one of the most in form creators. With 6 assists overall, 1 for Algeria, he now has 7 assists in his last 10 matches for club or country, with the other 3 matches seeing him rested (only 3 minutes, 16 minutes and 12 minutes played respectively in those three appearances). One would believe he would've surely contributed more had he not been wisely rested in those matches...(BTW...why Guardiola can't rest David Silva or Sterling like this is beyond me).
He's adding goals as well (7 goals in his last 9 apps for club and country), with another 3 key passes on Tuesday vs Watford to add to the bevy of threatening play from the Algerian wizard. Truly, without doubt, one of the top 3 absolute in form players in the world.
OVERALL:
Champions League leading 4 assists
2 assists in the Premier League
1 assist for Algeria
6. EDEN HAZARD (Chelsea/Belgium)
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| The Belgian has pulled the strings for Chelsea, showing an all around masterful game. His value cannot be quantified in stats, but he may want to go to a club where he can set the record numbers that elude him at Chelsea, the Belgium captain has been missing out thanks to his teammates' inaccuracy in front of goal. |
The ever-dangerous Eden Hazard began the period since the last list (a week) securing another Chelsea victory with a goal created from his passing, then set up another goal in a 2-1 loss to Wolverhampton, a match where he also created 6 chances. Hazard has 6 assists on the season and 1 for Belgium in a friendly in September vs Scotland.
Those may seem like meager numbers for such a World class top tier talent, but what this list is all about isn't the best stats, because stats (especially assists, don't get me started on the loose definition of a key pass) have never adequately done justice to prove how effective, how influential creative players can be: Iniesta comes to mind when I think of a player who's value could never be judged by stats. Hazard is in the same vein.
To illustrate this point: In 963 minutes, the Belgian has averaged 2.8 key passes a match, 49 total key passes in the Premier league and Europa League and a fruitless 15 internationally: 3 for Belgium in friendlies, and 12 in the Nations League for Belgium (0 assists in Nations League play). His Premier League total puts him at 7th on the top 10 key passers list in all of Europe.
OVERALL:
6 assists for Chelsea
1 assist for Belgium
5. LEROY SANE (Man City)
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| Only from the touch of Begovic was this not credited as a direct assist from Sane |
The ridiculously talented young German was responsible for all 3 City goals vs Bournemouth, directly credited with one official assist (Begovic's fingertips took another away from him). He had 3 key passes vs Bournemouth and continued with a double of chances created vs Watford, a match in which he opened the scoring with a filthy chested goal. Now, he is on 34 total key passes in a meager 1,059 minutes for the season (in all comps for City).
Sane has simply created way more than the stats indicate or his assists total points out and has been the third most influential player for Man City behind Sterling and Aguero.
OVERALL:
6 assists
4. RAHEEM STERLING (Man City)
Sterling didn't register an assist on the weekend, yet doesn't drop in this list. The Jamaican born Englishman scored a goal and was always involved, with 2 registered key passes on the day to go with a goal and 5 dribbles.
OVERALL:
7 assists in the Premier league
CRAZY WEIRD STAT: Out of his 27 key passes in the Premier League, 26 of them have been short passes, proving his overall dominance and profound danger in and around the box.
3. SEBASTIAN HALLER (Frankfurt)
With 10 overall assists, including 2 more since the last edition of this list, Haller continues to go from underrated to valued as he displays an all around creative game. He has headed down assists, He has launched long balls for them, He has laid some off, He even had one hit off of his neck and back, he's simply assisted every single way you can imagine and with Luka Jovic bagging in goal after goal, as well as Ante Rebic forcing mistakes from the front with his vicious press, Haller doesn't look like stopping anytime soon.
OVERALL:
10 assists
2. MEMPHIS DEPAY (Lyon)
Memphis drops from the #1 spot, through no fault of his own: he notched another assist vs Lille on the weekend and provided 4 other huge chances. To go with his all action profile, Memphis also hit the post and missed a penalty. When splitting hairs, the top two spots had to go to the better competition the top two were playing against and the difficulty of the latest assist they provided. Memphis only narrowly misses out to someone who arguments fall flat against, anyway (without spoiling #1...). With 4 assists in his last 3 matches, Memphis has been in outrageous form and should continue his exploits, even as his club has inconsistency problems match to match.
OVERALL:
12 assists, 7 in Ligue 1 and 3 in the UCL, with 2 for the Netherlands
92 Chances Created for Depay, including all competitive matches for club and country
Messi rises to the #1 spot after an otherworldly assist vs Villareal to young Barca midfield talent Carles Alena. Such was the majesty of this pass, that a La Masia kid on his debut, having just come off of the bench, could not waste it. He simply couldn't miss with a pass like that and took the opportunity with pure confidence, thanks to the wonderful ball from Messi and dinked it over the keeper.
Messi then proceeded to carve out 3 other chances in the match, in a measured and calculating performance where the humble Argentine deferred to Ousmane Dembele, showing trust and yet again, even more unselfishness from the Greatest Player of All Time.
Even when forcing himself on the periphery, Messi cannot contain himself from astounding us. The nature of this assist cannot be overstated: for a player who has dished some of the most eye-watering assists of our time, of all times, this one was simply special.
Messi has been on a creative tear, with Coutinho, Dembele, Pique, Suarez and now even Alena all recipients of his assists, with 4 of them in his last 5 matches.
He won't....he can't....he shan't..be stopped.
OVERALL:
9 total assists
3.3 Key Passes A Match (La Liga)
3.7 Key Passes A Match (UCL)
50 Total Key Passes
3 assists from Through Balls in La Liga
12 Key Passes From Through Balls In All Comps.
3 Key Passes From Free Kicks All Comps.
2 Key Passes From Corners All Comps.
4 Key Passes From Crosses All Comps.
32 Key Passes From Other Means In All Comps.
6 Key Passes From Long Balls In All Comps.
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