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Champions League Top Assists 2026: Player Rankings, Amazing Stats & New Leaders

Champions League Top Assists 2026

The UEFA Champions League is often defined by goals, but behind almost every memorable goal there is a player creating the opportunity. The 2025/26 campaign once again highlighted the importance of elite playmakers, wingers and attacking full-backs, with several of Europe’s best players competing for the top assist ranking.

The final Champions League Top Assists 2026 standings produced a tie at the top. Bayern Munich’s Michael Olise and Real Madrid’s Vinícius Júnior both finished with 8 assists, making them the joint-leading assist providers of the 2025/26 competition. Paris Saint-Germain’s Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Achraf Hakimi followed with 6 assists each, while Arsenal’s Leandro Trossard and Atlético Madrid’s Antoine Griezmann recorded 5 apiece.

The assist race was part of a high-scoring Champions League season. UEFA records 655 goals across 189 matches in the 2025/26 competition, an average of 3.47 goals per game.

This article covers the Champions League assist leaders 2026, the leading creative players, the relationship between goals and assists, club contributions, historical assist records and the key statistics from the 2025/26 tournament.

Champions League Top Assists 2026: Quick Overview

Here are the leading assist providers in the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League:

RankPlayerClubAssists
1Michael OliseBayern Munich8
1Vinícius JúniorReal Madrid8
3Khvicha KvaratskheliaParis Saint-Germain6
3Achraf HakimiParis Saint-Germain6
5Leandro TrossardArsenal5
5Antoine GriezmannAtlético Madrid5

These are the final assist figures published by UEFA for the 2025/26 Champions League season.

The table immediately shows how diverse the leading group was. Olise and Vinícius are attacking players who frequently operate from wide areas, Kvaratskhelia is an influential winger, Hakimi is an attacking full-back, Trossard offers versatility across the front line and Griezmann combines scoring with creative responsibilities.

Who Has the Most Assists in the Champions League 2026?

Michael Olise and Vinícius Júnior finished joint-first with 8 assists each.

Olise’s eight assists came during Bayern Munich’s European campaign, while Vinícius registered the same number for Real Madrid. Neither player finished above the other in UEFA’s final assist statistics, meaning the 2025/26 season officially ended with two players sharing the top spot.

Their presence at the top also demonstrates two different approaches to chance creation.

Olise is capable of creating opportunities through combinations, passes into dangerous areas and deliveries from wide positions. Vinícius, meanwhile, is particularly dangerous when attacking defenders and creating space around the left side of the pitch.

Having eight assists in a Champions League campaign is significant because the competition brings together Europe’s strongest clubs. Defensive organization is generally stronger than in domestic competition, and the knockout rounds provide little room for creative mistakes.

Also read this: Tallest Football Players 2026 | Premier League Player Stats 2026 | Champions League Records 2026

Champions League Top Assist Providers 2026

Michael Olise – 8 Assists

  • Michael Olise finished the 2025/26 Champions League season as one of the competition’s most productive creators.
  • The Bayern Munich attacker recorded 8 assists, putting him level with Vinícius Júnior at the top of the final UEFA ranking.
  • Olise’s creative value comes from his ability to operate between wide and central areas. He can receive possession in the final third, combine with teammates and deliver the final pass that turns an attacking move into a scoring opportunity.
  • His position also makes him difficult for defenders to track. When he moves inside, he can create passing angles for overlapping teammates. When he stays wide, he can stretch defensive lines and create space for forwards.
  • Finishing as the joint-leading assist provider underlines how important his creativity was to Bayern’s Champions League campaign.

Vinícius Júnior – 8 Assists

  • Real Madrid’s Vinícius Júnior matched Olise’s total with 8 assists.
  • The Brazilian winger has developed into one of the most influential attacking players in European football, and his Champions League numbers reflect his importance to Real Madrid.
  • Vinícius can create chances in several ways. His acceleration allows him to beat defenders, while his movement into the final third gives him opportunities to deliver passes across the penalty area or combine with teammates.
  • His ability to carry the ball over long distances also changes the way opposing teams defend Real Madrid. Defenders often have to retreat quickly when Vinícius receives possession in space.
  • With eight assists in 2025/26, Vinícius once again demonstrated that his contribution goes beyond scoring goals.

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia – 6 Assists

  • Khvicha Kvaratskhelia finished third in the final assist standings with 6 assists for Paris Saint-Germain.
  • His overall attacking contribution was even more impressive because he also scored 10 goals in 16 appearances during the competition. UEFA subsequently named him the 2025/26 Champions League Player of the Season.
  • Kvaratskhelia’s combination of goals and assists made him one of the most productive attacking players in the tournament.
  • He can create opportunities through dribbling, movement from the left side and combinations with teammates around the penalty area. His ability to both score and create makes him particularly difficult for opposing defenses to contain.
  • His six assists also played a role in PSG’s successful campaign as the French club eventually lifted the Champions League trophy.

Achraf Hakimi – 6 Assists

  • Achraf Hakimi also recorded 6 assists, matching Kvaratskhelia.
  • His inclusion near the top of the assist table is particularly notable because Hakimi is primarily a full-back rather than a traditional attacking forward.
  • Modern full-backs are increasingly important in attacking systems, and Hakimi is a strong example of that development.
  • His pace allows him to make overlapping runs, while his positioning enables him to arrive in advanced areas when opposing defenses are focused on PSG’s forwards.
  • His six assists show how much attacking value can come from defenders who are comfortable pushing high up the pitch.

Leandro Trossard – 5 Assists

  • Arsenal’s Leandro Trossard finished with 5 assists.
  • Trossard’s versatility is one of his major strengths. He can operate from wide positions or contribute closer to the centre of the attack, allowing his team to use him in different tactical situations.
  • His five assists placed him among the leading creative players in the competition and demonstrated his ability to contribute to Arsenal’s attacking play.

Antoine Griezmann – 5 Assists

  • Atlético Madrid’s Antoine Griezmann also finished with 5 assists.
  • Griezmann has long been recognised for his ability to combine goalscoring with playmaking. Rather than operating exclusively as a traditional striker, he frequently drops deeper to participate in buildup play.
  • That movement allows him to connect midfield and attack, create passing combinations and release teammates into dangerous positions.
  • His five assists placed him level with Trossard in the final Champions League assist rankings.

Champions League Assists Table 2026

The final UEFA statistics identify the leading six players as follows:

RankPlayerClubAssists
1Michael OliseBayern Munich8
1Vinícius JúniorReal Madrid8
3Khvicha KvaratskheliaPSG6
3Achraf HakimiPSG6
5Leandro TrossardArsenal5
5Antoine GriezmannAtlético Madrid5

UEFA’s official statistics confirm these final numbers.

Because UEFA’s published summary identifies these six leading players, they are the safest figures to use when presenting the headline Champions League assists 2026 table.

Top Champions League Assist Leaders 2026

The final top group was particularly competitive.

Olise and Vinícius finished with eight assists each, creating a clear gap over the players on six. Kvaratskhelia and Hakimi formed the second tier, while Trossard and Griezmann completed the six-player leading group with five each.

PositionPlayerTeamAssists
Joint 1stMichael OliseBayern Munich8
Joint 1stVinícius JúniorReal Madrid8
Joint 3rdKhvicha KvaratskheliaPSG6
Joint 3rdAchraf HakimiPSG6
Joint 5thLeandro TrossardArsenal5
Joint 5thAntoine GriezmannAtlético Madrid5

Rather than simply looking at the raw numbers, it is useful to consider the different positions represented in the table. Three of the leading creators are primarily attacking players, while Hakimi reached six assists from a defensive position.

Champions League Top Assists 2026 by Club

Bayern Munich

  • Bayern Munich’s leading assist provider was Michael Olise, who finished with eight.
  • UEFA’s club statistics also show Bayern scored 43 goals during the competition, the second-highest total among clubs behind PSG’s 45.
  • That attacking output provides context for Olise’s creative numbers. Bayern’s ability to maintain possession and attack with multiple players gave its creators plenty of opportunities to produce chances.

Real Madrid

  • Real Madrid were represented at the top of the assist standings by Vinícius Júnior.
  • The Brazilian finished with eight assists while Real Madrid also had the competition’s leading scorer in Kylian Mbappé, who scored 15 goals.
  • The combination illustrates the difference between creating and finishing. Vinícius supplied the creativity while Mbappé was particularly productive in front of goal.

Paris Saint-Germain

  • PSG had two players among the leading assist providers.
  • Kvaratskhelia and Hakimi both recorded six assists. PSG also led all clubs with 45 goals in the competition.
  • The club’s strong attacking numbers were part of a successful campaign that ended with the Champions League trophy.

Arsenal

  • Leandro Trossard was Arsenal’s representative among the top six assist providers, finishing with five assists.
  • His ability to play in different attacking positions gave Arsenal an additional creative option throughout the tournament.

Atlético Madrid

  • Antoine Griezmann recorded five assists for Atlético Madrid.
  • His creative role reflects Atlético’s use of experienced attacking players who can contribute both inside and outside the penalty area.

Most Assists vs Most Goals in Champions League 2026

Goals and assists measure different parts of attacking performance.

A goalscorer is responsible for finishing an opportunity, while an assist provider helps create that opportunity. Looking at both numbers gives a more complete picture of a player’s attacking contribution.

The 2025/26 Champions League illustrates this perfectly.

Top Assist Providers

  • Michael Olise – 8
  • Vinícius Júnior – 8
  • Khvicha Kvaratskhelia – 6
  • Achraf Hakimi – 6
  • Leandro Trossard – 5
  • Antoine Griezmann – 5

Top Scorers

Kylian Mbappé finished the campaign as the Champions League’s leading scorer with 15 goals. Bayern Munich’s Harry Kane was second with 14, while Julián Alvarez, Anthony Gordon and Kvaratskhelia each scored 10.

PlayerGoalsAssists
Kylian Mbappé15
Harry Kane14
Julián Alvarez10
Anthony Gordon10
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia106
Michael Olise8
Vinícius Júnior8
Achraf Hakimi6

This table demonstrates why goals and assists should not be viewed as interchangeable statistics. A player can dominate one category while another player has greater influence as a creator.

Champions League Goals and Assists 2026

Goal contributions are often calculated by adding a player’s goals and assists.

This provides a simple way to measure direct involvement in goals, although it does not capture everything a player contributes to a team.

For example, Kvaratskhelia finished with 10 goals and 6 assists, giving him 16 direct goal contributions according to those two categories. UEFA’s statistics confirm his 10 goals and six assists.

Olise and Vinícius were particularly influential as creators, while Mbappé stood out primarily as the tournament’s leading scorer.

This is why a good Champions League player statistics article should examine several metrics rather than relying only on goals.

Best Playmakers in the Champions League 2026

The leading assist providers shared several qualities.

Chance Creation

The ability to create scoring opportunities is fundamental to producing assists. Players need to recognise spaces and deliver passes at the right moment.

Final-Third Passing

The final third is where defensive lines become more compact. Finding a teammate in this area requires precision and timing.

Dribbling

Players such as Vinícius and Kvaratskhelia can create opportunities by beating defenders individually. A successful dribble can disrupt the defensive structure and open a passing lane.

Crossing and Cutbacks

Wide players and attacking full-backs can create assists through crosses and low deliveries across the penalty area.

Combination Play

Quick one-twos and short passing combinations can break defensive lines without requiring a player to beat an opponent individually.

Movement

Good movement creates passing options. Players who move intelligently can drag defenders away and open space for teammates.

Best Wingers for Assists in Champions League 2026

  • Wingers dominated much of the leading assist conversation.
  • Vinícius Júnior and Michael Olise both finished with eight assists, while Kvaratskhelia recorded six.
  • Their effectiveness comes from being able to operate in wide areas while also moving into central positions.
  • Wide attackers can influence matches in several ways. They can cross from the flank, cut inside and pass, combine with overlapping full-backs or carry the ball toward the penalty area.
  • The modern winger therefore has responsibilities that extend beyond traditional crossing.

Best Defenders for Assists in Champions League 2026

  • Achraf Hakimi’s six assists stand out because he is a full-back.
  • His performance demonstrates how the role of defenders has changed in modern football.
  • When a team has possession, an attacking full-back can effectively become another winger. Overlapping runs can create numerical advantages, while underlapping movements can allow the player to enter central attacking areas.
  • Hakimi’s six assists show that creativity is no longer limited to midfielders and forwards.

How Champions League Assists Are Recorded

An assist is generally associated with the final attacking contribution that directly creates a goal, but statistical providers can apply different rules to complicated situations.

Examples include:

  • A direct final pass before a goal
  • A pass followed by a deflection
  • Rebounds
  • Deflections off defenders
  • Set-piece deliveries
  • Situations involving penalties
  • Own-goal situations

This is one reason assist numbers can sometimes differ between statistical providers.

For a Champions League top assists 2026 article, UEFA’s official competition statistics should be treated as the primary reference point when presenting the official leaderboard.

Champions League Assist Leaders Compared With 2024/25

The previous Champions League season provides useful context.

UEFA’s all-time and seasonal statistics show that Raphinha led the 2024/25 Champions League assist ranking with nine assists.

In 2025/26, Olise and Vinícius finished with eight each.

SeasonTop Assist ProviderClubAssists
2025/26Michael Olise / Vinícius JúniorBayern Munich / Real Madrid8
2024/25RaphinhaBarcelona9

That means the 2025/26 joint leaders finished one assist short of the previous season’s leading total.

The comparison also shows how competitive the assist race can be from one season to another.

Champions League Top Assists 2026 vs All-Time Assist Leaders

The 2026 season rankings are impressive, but the Champions League’s historical assist chart provides another perspective.

UEFA’s all-time statistics currently list Cristiano Ronaldo first with 42 assists, followed by Ángel Di María with 41 and Lionel Messi with 40. Neymar is fourth with 33, while Vinícius Júnior is fifth with 32.

RankPlayerChampions League Assists
1Cristiano Ronaldo42
2Ángel Di María41
3Lionel Messi40
4Neymar33
5Vinícius Júnior32

Vinícius’ presence in the all-time top five is especially notable because he is still considerably younger than the players who established the historical record.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s 42 assists remain the benchmark in UEFA’s current all-time ranking.

Which Players Had the Best Goal Contributions in 2026?

The best way to evaluate attacking output is to consider both goals and assists.

Kylian Mbappé led the scoring chart with 15 goals, while Harry Kane finished on 14. Kvaratskhelia combined 10 goals with six assists, giving him an exceptional direct contribution total.

At the same time, Olise and Vinícius demonstrated the value of chance creation with eight assists each.

This distinction is important because football is not simply about who scores. Teams also need players capable of creating openings, supplying forwards and breaking defensive structures.

Impact of Assists on Champions League Success

Assists become particularly valuable in the knockout stages.

During the league phase, teams have several matches to recover from a poor result. In knockout football, however, one goal can change an entire tie.

A perfectly timed pass can therefore have enormous importance.

Creative players can influence Champions League matches by:

  • Creating the opening goal
  • Unlocking defensive blocks
  • Supplying decisive passes in transition
  • Creating chances late in matches
  • Combining with elite goalscorers
  • Providing width against compact defenses

The importance of these contributions is one reason assist statistics deserve as much attention as goals when analysing Champions League performances.

PSG’s Creative Contribution in 2026

Paris Saint-Germain had a particularly strong attacking campaign.

The club scored 45 goals, the highest total among teams in UEFA’s 2025/26 competition statistics. PSG also had two players among the top four assist providers: Kvaratskhelia and Hakimi, with six assists each.

Kvaratskhelia added 10 goals to his six assists and was named UEFA Champions League Player of the Season.

The combination of scoring and chance creation helped PSG produce one of the strongest attacking campaigns of the tournament.

PSG ultimately won the Champions League after beating Arsenal in the final on penalties, completing another successful European campaign.

Bayern Munich and Real Madrid Assist Leaders

Bayern Munich: Michael Olise

  • Michael Olise was Bayern Munich’s standout assist provider, finishing with eight.
  • Bayern also scored 43 goals during the competition, the second-highest club total behind PSG.
  • Olise’s creative contribution was therefore an important part of one of the tournament’s most productive attacks.

Real Madrid: Vinícius Júnior

  • Vinícius Júnior matched Olise’s eight assists for Real Madrid.
  • Real Madrid also had the competition’s leading scorer in Mbappé, who finished with 15 goals.
  • The numbers highlight how Real Madrid could rely on different types of attacking contributions: Vinícius provided creativity while Mbappé was the primary finishing threat.

Key Statistics From the 2025/26 Champions League

The 2025/26 Champions League produced some notable final statistics.

StatisticLeader / Figure
Total matches189
Total goals655
Goals per match3.47
Top scorerKylian Mbappé
Top scorer’s goals15
Top assist providersMichael Olise / Vinícius Júnior
Top assist total8
Champions League winnerParis Saint-Germain
Player of the SeasonKhvicha Kvaratskhelia

UEFA confirms that 655 goals were scored across 189 matches, while Mbappé led the scoring chart with 15 and Olise and Vinícius jointly led the assists with eight each.

These numbers underline how attacking the 2025/26 competition was.

Why Assists Matter in Champions League Football

Goals are the most visible statistic in football, but assists reveal another side of attacking performance.

A player can influence a match without scoring. They can create a chance, draw defenders away, deliver a key pass or provide the final ball that allows a teammate to finish.

This is especially important in the Champions League because teams often have elite defensive structures.

Breaking down a well-organised defense requires creativity. That creativity can come from a winger, midfielder, full-back or even a forward dropping into a deeper position.

The 2026 assist rankings reflect this variety.

Olise and Vinícius led the table from attacking roles. Kvaratskhelia combined goals and assists. Hakimi demonstrated the importance of attacking full-backs. Trossard and Griezmann provided creativity from versatile attacking positions.

What the 2026 Assist Rankings Tell Us

Several trends stand out from the final rankings.

First, wide players remain extremely important to chance creation. Four of the six leading assist providers operate primarily from wide or wide-attacking positions.

Second, modern full-backs can be major attacking contributors. Hakimi’s six assists demonstrate that defenders can compete with forwards and wingers in creative statistics.

Third, the best attacking players increasingly contribute in multiple ways. Kvaratskhelia’s 10 goals and six assists are a good example.

Finally, the difference between the very top players was relatively small. Olise and Vinícius finished on eight, while Kvaratskhelia and Hakimi were only two assists behind them.

Conclusion

The Champions League Top Assists 2026 race ended with Michael Olise and Vinícius Júnior sharing the top spot after both recorded eight assists during the 2025/26 campaign. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Achraf Hakimi followed with six each, while Leandro Trossard and Antoine Griezmann completed the leading group with five apiece.

The final numbers also show why assists are such an important part of Champions League statistics. The competition featured elite wingers, playmakers and attacking full-backs, and the leading creators came from different tactical roles.

Kvaratskhelia was particularly impressive because he combined six assists with 10 goals and was named the competition’s Player of the Season. Mbappé, meanwhile, finished as the leading scorer with 15 goals.

Looking beyond the 2025/26 campaign, the all-time assist race remains led by Cristiano Ronaldo with 42, while Vinícius Júnior has already climbed into the historical top five with 32.

For fans tracking Champions League assist leaders 2026, the season offered a clear reminder that creating goals can be just as influential as scoring them. With Olise and Vinícius leading the final table, the 2025/26 Champions League had two outstanding providers at the top of one of football’s most important attacking statistics.

FAQ

1.Who has the most assists in the Champions League 2026?

Michael Olise and Vinícius Júnior are the joint-leading assist providers in the 2025/26 Champions League, with 8 assists each.

2.How many assists did Michael Olise have in the Champions League 2026?

Michael Olise recorded 8 assists for Bayern Munich, finishing joint-first in the final UEFA assist standings.

3.How many assists did Vinícius Júnior have in the Champions League 2026?

Vinícius Júnior recorded 8 assists for Real Madrid, matching Michael Olise at the top of the ranking.

4.Who was the second-highest assist provider in the Champions League 2026?

There was no outright second-place player because Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Achraf Hakimi both finished with 6 assists, placing them joint-third behind Olise and Vinícius.

5.How many assists did Kvaratskhelia get in 2026?

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia recorded 6 assists in the 2025/26 Champions League. He also scored 10 goals and was named Player of the Season by UEFA.

6.How many assists did Achraf Hakimi have?

Achraf Hakimi finished with 6 assists, making him one of the leading creators in the competition despite playing primarily as a full-back.

7.Who was the Champions League top scorer in 2026?

Kylian Mbappé was the leading scorer in the 2025/26 Champions League with 15 goals. Harry Kane finished second with 14.

8.Who has the most Champions League assists of all time?

Cristiano Ronaldo currently leads UEFA’s all-time Champions League assist ranking with 42 assists, followed by Ángel Di María with 41 and Lionel Messi with 40.

9.What is the difference between an assist and a key pass?

An assist is the credited attacking contribution that directly leads to a goal under the relevant statistical rules. A key pass can create a scoring opportunity without necessarily resulting in a goal. Therefore, a player can have many key passes but fewer assists.

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