by admin | Mar 30, 2025 | football clubs, football players, lionel messi, soccer
Lionel Messi
during his
Barcelona
Prime notably stands out among the 10 players with the highest number of assists in a single season since 2000. However, which other athletes complete this top 10 list?
The playmaker position has evolved into a refined role, with supporters placing significant emphasis on ‘assist statistics’ to identify the most inventive players. While some are inherently suited for this position, they often accumulate substantially more assists compared to goals, excelling at crafting plays both during set pieces and in open play as key architects within their teams.
Truly exceptional playmakers function in the space between the midfield and the attacking zone, exploiting gaps behind the defensive line where they can utilize their vision, agile footwork, and precise passing to set up teammates in ideal scoring situations.
With that in mind, we’ve decided to look at the top 10 campaigns in terms of assists in Europe’s top five leagues in the 21st century, counting assists from competitions in their country as well as European tournaments as well.
10. Mesut Özil – 2009-10 Season (25 appearances)
Mesut Özil appears multiple times on the list and stands out as one of the most naturally gifted playmakers to have graced football in the 2000s. Endowed with skill, an elegant playing style, and exceptional foresight, he was the quintessential offensive midfielder. This season, he recorded 29 assists across all competitions, including four during the Europa League qualification round.
Keeping the number 25, this impressive performance occurred during a season when he excelled atWerder Bremen. His efforts contributed significantly as his team secured third place in the Bundesliga, progressed tothe Round of 16in theEuropa League, and made it all the way to thefinalof theGerman Cup. Following this remarkable run, he promptly transferred toReal Madridthat same year.
9. Thomas Müller – 2019-20 (26)
At Bayern Munich, Thomas Müller might as well be regarded as an integral piece of their legacy by now. He is intricately linked with the team’s modern-day story and is approaching his 750th appearance for the club.
Throughout that period, he has emerged as a crucial offensive force, scoring almost as many goals as providing assists, and he ranks among the topassist providers in the annals of football.
In the 2019/20 campaign, the team managed to score from various parts of the field, with their striking force led by Robert Lewandowski, who seized every opportunity presented to him.
In Hansi Flick’s inaugural season, they secured the treble and dominated both the league and the Champions League, famously putting eight past Barcelona in the semifinal. At the center of this success stood Müller, who excelled brilliantly throughout.
READ MORE:
The seven active players with the highest number of assists in football history include Messi, Ronaldo, and others.
8. Lionel Messi – 2019-20 (27)
Lionel Messi appears thrice on this list, making his inclusion inevitable. A complete megastar, he can score goals and set up teammates effortlessly. In his most authentic role, however, he shines as a creator who generates opportunities for fellow players so seamlessly that playing alongside him would likely have been exhilarating for any forward.
During the 2019/20 campaign, he coached the team to only 27 wins across all competitions, resulting in them not securing any trophies—a rarity throughout his tenure with Barcelona. This outcome wasn’t due to him though; over just 44 matches, he achieved an impressive tally of 31 goals and 27 assists.
7. Henrikh Mkhitaryan – 2015-16 Season (28)
Maybe one of the most overlooked campaigns over the last twenty years, Henrikh Mkhitaryan astonished European soccer with his performance of scoring 23 goals and providing 32 assists across 52 matches for Borussia Dortmund under Thomas Tuchel.
The attacking trio consisting of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, and Marco Reus created significant chaos during the season when they secured second place in the league, reached the final in the cup, and yet surprisingly allowed Liverpool to stage an incredible come back after leading at Anfield.
During his most impressive season, Mkhitaryan recorded an astounding 28 assists across various competitions including the Bundesliga, Europa League, and German Cup. Following this success, he secured transfers to both Manchester United and Arsenal; however, these moves did not quite meet the high expectations set for him. Nonetheless, nobody can argue with the exceptional talent he displayed while playing in Germany.
6. Mesut Özil – 2010-11 Season (28)
During his debut season with Madrid, he became part of an exclusive team headed by Cristiano Ronaldo. As a result, he found himself providing assists not only to Ronaldo but also to teammates like Karim Benzema and Gonzalo Higuaín, receiving recognition for his contributions in return.
When Barcelona dominated the era, his efforts assisted them in clinching the Spanish Cup; nevertheless, they failed to secure victories in either the league or the Champions League against their arch-rivals, Barcelona. Throughout the season, Ozil displayed exceptional brilliance, with his tactical acumen becoming evident as he swiftly adjusted to the game.
READ:
A homage to Mesut Özil at Real Madrid: A ‘one-of-a-kind’ assisting maestro
5. Kevin De Bruyne – Season 2014-15 (28)
Following his departure from Chelsea, Kevin De Bruyne was determined to show both the London club and Jose Mourinho they were mistaken. With players like Eden Hazard, Oscar, Willian, Andre Schurrle, and a budding Mohamed Salah ahead of him, he realized he needed to find another path for growth. At Wolfsburg, not only did he flourish but also surpassed expectations.
In his debut season, he managed to score 16 goals and provide 28 assists across 51 matches, helping them secure second place in the league, win the German Cup, but lose in the quarterfinals of the Europa League under coach Ralph Hasenhüttl. The next summer, he moved to Manchester City where he rapidly established himself among the top players in the Premier League. As they say, the rest is history.
4. Juan Mata – 2012-13 Season (30)
Back then, Juan Mata was regarded as one of the top attacking midfielders in the Premier League, with his performance during the 2012/13 season being particularly outstanding for him personally. During this period, he scored 20 goals and provided 30 assists in 64 matches as Chelsea participated in various tournaments.
Ultimately, they secured third place under Rafael Benítez, progressed to the semifinals in both domestic cup competitions, and finished as runners-up in both the Super Cup and Club World Cup. However, they emerged victorious in the Europa League during their inaugural participation in the tournament.
Mata’s late corner kick was powerfully headed home by Branislav Ivanovic to secure the victory, and he consistently showcased his dominance throughout the entire season.
3. Xavi – 2008-09 Season (31)
Referred to as the outstanding midfield maestro, Xavi was the central figure in both the dominant Spanish national team and FC Barcelona. However, few recognize just how reliably he set up goals for his fellow players during this period. It was also the notable year when Pep Guardiola assumed control, propelling the teams towards an impressive treble victory season.
Xavi was outstanding in midfield and crucial to his team’s new tactical approach, which would eventually revolutionize club soccer. He provided an assist during the Champions League final against Manchester United, helping to seal the victory.
A stunning cross from outside the box sliced through the United defense as Messi unleashed a rareheader to seal their win, with his precise assist at that moment perfectly illustrating his skill.
2. Lionel Messi – 2014-15 (31)
This was an iconic year for the Barcelona side as they went on to secure a famous treble, spearheaded by the incredible attacking trio of Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez. That attack devastated almost every side as they picked up all the accolades, and Messi was at the centre of it all with 58 goals and 31 assists in 57 games.
His innovative skills contributed to Neymar scoring 39 goals, while Suarez scored 25 during his first season in Spain, with one notable goal being their team’s second in the Champions League final—a strike from Messi that rebounded off Gianluigi Buffon. It turned out to be one of the greatest players’ finest campaigns ever.
1. Lionel Messi – Season 2011-12 (32)
With each passing year, Messi’s performance during the 2011-12 season remains an ever-growing legend. Scoring 73 goals and providing 32 assists across merely 60 matches is nothing short of extraordinary. He went on to shatter the record for the highest number of goals scored within a single calendar year in 2012, amassing an astounding total of 91 goals.
During Guardiola’s final season leading the team, Barcelona secured victories in the UEFA Super Cup, the Spanish Super Cup, and the FIFA Club World Cup, along with winning the Copa del Rey. However, despite Messi being at the pinnacle of his extraordinary abilities, they fell short in both La Liga and the Champions League.
Despite facing challenges, Messi led the league in assists by a significant margin and scored more goals than anyone else in club soccer that season, rendering this campaign nothing short of extraordinary and astonishing.
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It’s hard to fathom how Lionel Messi managed to guide this surprising Barcelona squad to clinch the La Liga title.
TRY A QUIZ:
Could you list the top 25 players who have recorded the most assists in the history of the Champions League?
by admin | Mar 30, 2025 | football clubs, football players, music, soccer, sports
Fans of AFC Leopards and Gor Mahia have transformed the Nairobi Central Business District (CBD) into shades of blue, white, and green in anticipation of their match today.
The 96th Mashemeji Derby will be front and center starting at 4 PM at the Nyayo National Stadium, where much more than just three points will be up for grabs.
The match has already faced two postponements this season due to Kenya’s ongoing challenges in finding an approved venue capable of hosting such a significant event.
One of the venues approved for both CHAN 2024 and AFCON 2027, Nyayo Stadium, has been declared fit to stage matches. The Kenya men’s national football team, known as Harambee Stars, recently competed in a World Cup qualifying match against Gabon.
Before the match began, supporters from both teams arrived in Nairobi wearing their vibrant team colors and singing their club anthems. Crowds congregated at the Kenya National Archives and outside the Nation Centre prior to setting off towards Nyayo Stadium as part of the parade.
More to follow.
by admin | Mar 28, 2025 | controversies, environmental pollution, environmentalism, soccer, sports
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FANS HIT OUT AT ‘MOST TERRIBLE NATIONAL ANTHEM PERFORMANCE’ ON OPENING DAY
The
Los Angeles
The Dodgers intended for the spotlight of Opening Day to shine exclusively on their recent World Series win. Nonetheless, demonstrations from supporters targeting team owner Mark Walter marred the event.
Scores of Los Angeles fans gathered outside Dodgers Stadium as part of an organization known as Dodger Fans Against
Fossil Fuels
, objecting to the team’s sponsorship agreement with Phillips 66.
Considered a major oil firm, Phillips 66 possesses the 76 gas stations, known for their promotional presence at Dodger Stadium.
“And what we’re seeing here is just greenwashing,” group co-founder Zan Dubin told the audience.
Los Angeles Times.
It tries to link the positive emotions and memories and loyalty we hold for our cherished champion team with major oil companies, thus normalizing them and making their presence seem insignificant. Obviously, we understand that oils, gases, and fossil fuels play a role in this issue.
climate change
, and we have reached a critical juncture.'”
The scientists are informing us that we’ve entered a phase where certain impacts of climate change will be unstoppable for hundreds of years. Our campaign began last summer in 2024 with an open letter addressed to Mark Walter. This initiative has since garnered signatures from more than 27,000 individuals.
Dubin mentioned that the organization also has backing from California.
Senate
Majority Leader Lena Gonzalez penned a letter to Walter requesting the removal of the sponsorship. Neither the fan group nor Gonzalez has received any response as reported.
My cofounder of the campaign, Lisa Kaas Boyle, isn’t present with us today as she resides in Pacific Palisades. Previously, she lived in Pacific Palisades but had to leave due to losing her house during the LA wildfires. We should remember that experts have confirmed these fires became more severe because of climate change.
We’re here addressing climate change and encouraging the Dodgers to take the correct path. Next year, the World Cup will be held in Los Angeles, where the organizers are backed by Saudi Aramco oil. Additionally, we know that the Olympics are set to arrive in LA soon. My query is: When the Olympics reach LA, will Dodger Stadium stand as an emblem of environmental responsibility, or serve merely as advertising space for major petroleum companies?
More to come.
Read more
by admin | Mar 27, 2025 | chelsea f.c., european football, football clubs, soccer, sports
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Chelsea has faced Manchester City four consecutive times, with wins in three of those matches.
-
The Blues encounter a dominant Barcelona team that defeated Wolfsburg with a combined score of 10-2.
-
LISTEN NOW: It’s All Heating Up! Should Liverpool supporters criticize Trent Alexander-Arnold?
Chelsea
have arranged an enticing confrontation with
Barcelona
in the Women’s
Champions League
semifinal, recovering from being down by two goals for an incredible comeback at Stamford Bridge.
The Blues entered Thursday evening’s final match of their four successive games one point ahead, after securing their victories.
League Cup
finally along with the league, coming between a 2-0 loss in the first leg of this quarter-final.
When Sonia Bompastor asserted that she ‘wasn’t bothered’ about ending her personal 28-match unbeaten run, little did anyone know how accurate that stance would turn out to be. Especially considering Chelsea’s loss in what ended up being an insignificant match overall, her perspective appears quite prescient.
‘I mentioned after the first leg that we still had a chance, and I believed it was feasible, although I understood the challenge would be difficult,’ she stated following Thursday evening’s victory.
But I believe it’s crucial for us to recover and get the chance to experience losing games so we can observe our team’s reaction. Personally, I feel that both my coaching staff and I invested significant effort as managers since the first leg to ensure that our strategy was sound.
‘Until you participate and achieve success, you won’t realize it.’
The match seemed poised to begin on fairly equal terms, though everyone knew that Bompastor would pull out all stops in an attempt to secure a spot in the semi-finals of Europe’s top tournament.
Ultimately, this was among the key factors behind bringing the three-time Champions League champion (winning twice as a player and once as a coach) to the team, due to their extensive expertise.
In the end, following tonight’s events, this choice appears to have been justified. At least for now, until they face an impressive-looking Barcelona team next, which scored 10 goals overall against Wolfsburg, only letting in two times.
The city team was left with minimal options due to limited squad availability, as Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw and Aoba Fujino remained sidelined. Additionally, long-term absences included England’s Lionesses players Lauren Hemp and Alex Greenwood.
On that particular evening, they carried along merely five substitute players – including only one offensive choice named Jess Park – which was exactly half the number of reserves that their adversaries had at disposal.
City manager Nick Cushing lamented the thinness of his roster following the match, stating: “Whenever you step onto the field for a UEFA Champions League quarter-final, you aim to have your top talents playing.”
‘To have players like Alex Greenwood and Lauren Hemp, along with a goalkeeper vying for the starting position, but not having our striker who has been involved in most of our goals scored this season—it’s challenging, isn’t it? However, I’m not trying to make excuses here.’
‘I was aware of the mission and the difficulty ahead when I stepped into this role. What I consistently expect from my squad is genuine resilience, tenacity, and confidence. You can observe these qualities in them. The team gave everything until the very last moment.’
Despite their 2-0 lead, City looked more nervous on the night and it took just under 15 minutes for Chelsea to find the opener.
Disappointed by this turn of events, Cushing watched as it resulted from a City throw-in. Lucy Bronze seized control, forcefully making her way into the penalty area and striking the ball with the outer part of her foot towards Khiara Keating’s goal, who was also one of her teammates for the Lionesses.
The ball rebounded with some ferocity off the post and Sandy Baltimore, unmarked and with plenty of time to think about it, sent it flying into the far-right corner.
Chelsea was denied a penalty as the referee dismissed Bompastor’s claim that Erin Cuthbert had been fouled inside the box.
However, the French coach didn’t have much time to worry from the touchline.
Baltimore struck once more, this time originating from the corner flag. Her set-piece allowed Nathalie Bjorn to rise above everyone else, jumping higher than anyone else to equalize in front of the ecstatic Shed End supporters.
From then on, the city started to decline.
After a frantic scramble resulted in Cushing signaling for composure from his squad following the ball being nervously regained by Hoof into Chelsea’s eager control, it seemed his instructions went unheeded as Mayra Ramirez extended their lead to three just prior to halftime when Chelsea capitalized yet again on an error during a set piece situation.
Match Details and Player Scores
Chelsea (4-2-3-1):
Hampton 7; Bronze 8, Bright 7.5, Bjorn 8, Baltimore 8.5; Walsh 7.5, Cuthbert 7.5; Rytting Kaneryd 7.5, Kaptein 7.5, James 7.5, Ramirez 8; (Beever-Jones 72, 6).
Subs not used
Brown, Macario, Charles, Cox, Hamano, Jean-Francois, Lawrence, Nusken, Spencer.
Scorers:
Baltimore 14, Bjorn 38, Ramirez 43.
Booked:
Baltimore 55.
Manager:
Sonia Bompastor
Manchester City (4-3-3):
Keating scored 5.5; Casparij got 6, Prior received 5, Aleixandri earned 5.5, Ouahabi also with 5.5; Roord played at 6 (came off at 65 minutes, still at 6); Hasegawa was rated 6 (replaced by Layzell at minute 85); Miedema maintained 6 throughout; Kerolin stayed steady at 6 as well; Fowler had an impressive score of 6.5, while Murphy started but only managed 5 before being substituted out for Coombs who came in at the 46th minute scoring a 6.
Subs not used:
Startup, Wienroither.
Booked:
Aleixandri 46.
Manager:
Nick Cushing.
Referee:
Catarina Isabel Ferreira Campos 6.
Attendance:
10, 769.
Cushing replaced Miedema – who found it difficult to assert herself during the first half – with a new role positioned further up front at halftime.
The acting head similarly enlisted Laura Coombs to strengthen the defense, and these additions appeared to create a more balanced team.
The city team had numerous opportunities during the second half, particularly when Miedema took a powerful shot from outside the penalty area that narrowly missed the post. However, for the most part, Chelsea appeared quite at ease with maintaining possession.
This season, Millie Bright and Bjorn have formed an impressive center-back duo, and they once more demonstrated their prowess in defending against Hannah Hampton.
Park replaced Jill Roord in the 65th minute and injected fresh vigor into City’s weary players, however, Bompastor’s team continued to push relentlessly.
Next up is the renowned Liga F powerhouse, Barcelona — a team against whom Chelsea has lost their last two semifinals consecutively.
But when there’s a will, there’s a way. And having the squad depth that Chelsea possesses certainly does its bit in helping, too.
Read more
by admin | Mar 27, 2025 | european football, football clubs, news, soccer, sports
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Cole Palmer was absent from Chelsea’s last match prior to the international pause.
-
He similarly missed his commitments for international duty because of a muscle issue that needed further examination through scanning.
-
LISTEN NOW: The Frenzy Begins! Should Liverpool supporters criticize Trent Alexander-Arnold?
Cole Palmer
hasn’t practiced with teammates since sustaining his muscle issue prior to the international break, leaving
Chelsea
perspiring over their playmaker’s availability for next week’s clash with longtime adversaries
Tottenham
.
The injury caused Palmer to skip his team’s previous match.
Premier League
loss at
Arsenal
About two weeks back, since he couldn’t link up at that time,
Thomas Tuchel
’s and
England
For the World Cup qualifiers against Albania and Latvia.
Blues boss
Enzo Maresca
has kept working at Cobham alongside others who also did not go abroad for international duties, including
Nicolas Jackson
, the forward who is anticipated to be fit enough to come back to Tottenham following a two-month absence from the pitch.
The numbers have increased as well due to young players being summoned from the academy to train with the main team. However, Mail Sport has discovered that Palmer hasn’t joined these training sessions just yet.
While it remains uncertain exactly when he will return, considering his significance as their primary playmaker, Chelsea might delay making any definitive decision about including him against Tottenham until absolutely necessary.
Initially, there was hope regarding Palmer’s condition, despite him being referred for a second scan at the beginning of the international break.
The past season has been challenging for this 22-year-old English player, who had participated in every other Premier League match for Chelsea prior to their visit to Arsenal.
Even though he wasn’t performing well, his absence had a considerable impact on that 1-0 loss.
Chelsea aims for a robust finish to secure their spot back in the Champions League. At present, they hold the fourth position on the leaderboard, and previously defeated Tottenham Hotspur 4-3 at their stadium with a remarkable turnaround where Palmer netted two goals, highlighted by his composed Panenka-style penalty kick.
Read more
by admin | Mar 27, 2025 | commerce, soccer, sports, tournaments
Cebu City, Philippines – The Toledo Xignex Trojans continued their impressive performance at the PCAP All-Filipino Conference, recording two resounding wins on Thursday, March 26.
Leading the Trojans’ outstanding play was recently signed Grandmaster (GM) Mark Paragua, who showcased an impeccable performance in their decisive 17-4 victory over the Iloilo Kisela Knights. The Trojans continued their stellar form by defeating the Camarines Soaring Eagles 17.5-3.5 in their subsequent game later that same day.
Thanks to these consecutive victories, coupled with their initial win, the Trojans currently lead the South Division rankings with a perfect 3-0 (win-loss) record and have amassed a total of 54.5 points.
The Bacolod Blitzers, who remain undefeated at 3-0, follow closely with 45 points, whereas Camarines holds the third spot with a record of 2-1.
During their match against Iloilo, Grandmaster Paragua outperformed Erol Parando at Board 1, securing victories in both the blitz and rapid rounds. Completing flawless performances alongside Paragua were International Masters Joel Banawa and Joel Pimentel, who defeated Hubert Canto and Horizon Villanueva respectively without dropping a single game.
In the match against Camarines, FIDE Master (FM) Ellan Asuela engaged in a tightly fought battle with Chin Lim on Board 1. The encounter concluded as a tie in both the blitz and rapid rounds.
Nevertheless, the remaining members of the Trojans secured vital victories. WFM Cherry Ann Mejia, along with IMs Barlo Nadera and Kim Steven Yap, dominated their respective games against Virginie Ruaya and ex-Trojan Angelo Young. Additionally, IM Yap triumphed over both Coellier Graspela and Marco Balane in individual matchups, clinching an overwhelming victory for Toledo.
At the same time, in the North Division, the AQ Prime Cavite Spartans and the previous PCAP champions, San Juan Predators, lead at the top with matching undefeated records of 3-0.
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