Lamine Yamal has already moved beyond Steven Gerrard, Eden Hazard and David Silva in the Champions League’s all-time assists standings and could overtake six more notable names this season.
The Barcelona forward reached 13 career assists in the competition after setting up two goals in Tuesday’s match against Galatasaray.
With 35 Champions League appearances already to his name, Yamal has a realistic chance of climbing further up the list in the coming months.
Beckham next in his sights
Yamal needs one more assist to draw level with David Beckham on 14.
Beckham made more than 100 Champions League appearances during spells with Manchester United, Real Madrid, AC Milan and PSG.
There are differing figures for the former England captain’s assist total. Some sources, including Transfermarkt, record a higher number, but UEFA lists Beckham on 13, so that is the figure being used here.
Andrea Pirlo is next, with 15 assists. The former midfielder won the Champions League twice with AC Milan and finished runner-up on two further occasions – once with Milan and once with Juventus.
Pirlo also made more than 100 appearances in the competition, a mark Yamal has not yet reached despite his rapid progress.
At 15 assists is Marco Reus, whose entire Champions League tally came with Borussia Dortmund. The German played 72 times in the competition before moving to MLS, shortly after suffering a second Champions League final defeat.
Figo, Henry and Raul within reach
Reaching 15 would also take Yamal level with Luis Figo, the former Barcelona and Real Madrid forward.
Figo won the Ballon d’Or at the height of his career, an individual standard Yamal is attempting to reach. However, the Portuguese’s transfer from Barcelona to Real Madrid remains one decision the teenager would presumably not want to emulate.
As with Beckham, assist totals for Figo and the next two players are recorded differently by some sources.
Thierry Henry is listed on 16 assists, putting the former Arsenal, Monaco and Barcelona forward within Yamal’s reach.
Although Henry is best remembered for his goals, he was an attacking player capable of operating in several positions and creating as effectively as he finished. His 20 assists in a single Premier League season underlined that creative quality.
The final name is Raul, who has 16 Champions League assists.
The Real Madrid legend once held the record for most goals in the competition before Cristiano Ronaldo surpassed him, but Raul also contributed regularly as a creator.
Yamal could match Raul’s assist total, although his 71 Champions League goals remain a much more distant target for now.
