The players with the most assists in international football

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

Messi helped orchestrate a 6-0 win for Argentina against Puerto Rico and assisted on goals for Gonzalo Montiel and Lautaro Martinez as the world champions ran riot. The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner became the first footballer to achieve sixty international assists.

👑 Lionel Messi breaks the record for most international assists in history
👑Cristiano Ronaldo becomes the all-time top scorer in FIFA World Cup qualifying history
Still the GOATS🐐 pic.twitter.com/TIlVVzjvQt
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) October 15, 2025

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

The footballers with the most international assists

🇭🇺Sandor Kocsis: 51

Kocsis was part of Hungary’s legendary Mighty Magyars side and was incredibly involved in 126 goals in just 68 caps. In addition to scoring better than one goal per match for the national team (75), including a run of eleven goals to win the 1954 World Cup Golden Boot, Kocsis created 51 goals for teammates including Ferenc Puskas and Zoltán Czibor.

🇭🇺Franciscus Puskas: 53

Puskas played alongside Kocsis for the legendary Hungarian 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, he helped Hungary to the 1952 Olympic gold medal and the World Cup final two years later. Most 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 are a joint European record.

🇧🇪 Kevin De Bruyne: 53

Kevin De Bruyne shares the record for most international assists by a European player. The midfielder scored 53 goals in 115 caps for the Red Devils and was recognized as one of world football’s best scorers.

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

🇧🇷 Neymar: 58

Neymar has averaged more than one goal per match during a decorated career with the Brazilian national team. After making his debut as a teenager, Neymar broke Pele’s record as Brazil’s top scorer in 2023. He currently has 79 goals and 58 assists in 128 appearances for the Selecao.

🇺🇸Landon Donovan: 58

Landon Donovan, the poster boy of American football during his time with the Stars and Stripes, is both the US’s top scorer (57 – tied with Clint Dempsey) and the leading assist giver.

Often considered the greatest men’s player in American history, he also holds the MLS assist record.

🇦🇷 Lionel Messi: 60 🆕

Messi has become the first footballer to reach 60 assists at international level, after registering a string of assists this week.

For many, the Argentinian is the greatest football talent ever 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. In addition to Copa America victories in 2021 and 2024, he inspired Argentina to World Cup glory in 2022, winning the tournament’s Golden Ball.

The players with the most assists in international football