Euro 2024 will start in two weeks, with the best contestants across the continents ready to hit the ground running. As a tradition, EURO is not only about which country wins the Henri Delaunay Cup. But it is also a main stage for talents to prove their worth in the competition.
For most spectators, it only matters to know who scored the winning goal. However, a goal could also start with an accurate pass, or what is popularly known as an assist. Here are the top 10 players with the most assists in Euro.
Dennis Bergkamp – 4
During his prime, Dennis Bergkamp was a top-tier midfielder, especially during the 1990s. He participated in three Euro editions, scoring four goals and four assists. In the 2000 edition of Euro, he provided three assists for his teammates, taking the Netherlands to the semi-final before losing to Italy.
Four years earlier in 1996, Bergkamp scored one assist in the group stage against England. The Netherlands advanced to the quarter-final but lost to France, also in a penalty shootout. He is among the players with the most assists in Euro history.
Andres Iniesta – 5
Andres Iniesta Lujan was one of the best midfielders of his generation. He won every possible title with Barcelona during his career, including two trebles in 2009 and 2015. The La Masia graduate participated in three Euro editions from 2008 to 2016, collecting five assists.
In the opening game of Euro 2008, Iniesta provided one assist in Spain’s 4-1 victory over Russia at Tivoli Stadium. He led Spain to win the tournament that year, beating Germany 1-0 in the final. Four years later in 2012, Iniesta got two assists in the group stage when Spain beat the Republic of Ireland and Croatia in the group stage.
La Furia Roja went on to retain the title after winning the final game against Italy. Iniesta’s last Euro was in France (2016) where he made one assist in the opening game when Spain beat Czech 1-0.
Cesc Fabregas – 5
When Fabregas emerged for Arsenal’s first team back in 2003, Fabregas was one of Arsene Wenger’s favourite midfielders. He was so skillful for a young player that Spain national team called him in 2006 when he was 19.
Fabregas had his first Euro appearance in 2008 against Russia in the opening game. Same as Iniesta, he also provided an assist for David Villa who scored a hat-trick in that game. He went on to participate in three Euro editions from 2008 to 2016.
Bastian Schweinsteiger – 5
Regarded as one of Germany’s best midfielders of all time, Schweinsteiger appeared in 18 Euro games from four editions. He started his Euro journey in the 2004 edition but Germany failed to escape the group stage back then.
Among the UEFA Euro top assists scorers, he provided five assists in total, with the best milestone being reaching the final in the 2008 edition. In 2012 and 2016, Germany only reached the semifinals after losing to Italy and France, respectively.
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Luis Figo – 5
Never ask a Barcelona fan about what kind of a player Luis Figo is. For most of the Catalonian, the Portuguese guy was a traitor after decided to cross a path from Barca to Real Madrid. Apart from that, Figo was one of the most talented players that ever graced the midfield.
Figo appeared in three editions of Euro from 1996 to 2004, collecting five assists for his teammates through generations. His productive assist season was in 2000, when he made three assists, one in the group stage and two in the quarter-final. Portugal ended up losing the semifinal to the eventual champions France.
Eden Hazard – 5
The member of Belgium’s golden generation may have only scored once during his two Euro participations. However, he was one of the most providing players when it came to assisting with a collection of five.
Hazard’s best Euro was in the 2016 edition when he produced assists in four consecutive games. Belgium ended up losing the quarter final to Wales 3-1. Before announcing his retirement last October, the former Chelsea winger appeared in 126 games and scored 33 goals for his country.
David Beckham – 5
Beckham is up there among the best passers of all time in football history. He participated only in two Euro editions from 2000 and 2004. In his first participation, the father of four collected three assists in the group stage but England failed to proceed to the knockout stage.
Four years later in Portugal, he made two assists in the group stage, one against Croatia and another one in a game against France. England lost the quarter-final to Portugal through a penalty shootout.
Arjen Robben – 6
Robben played his first Euro in 2004, taking the Netherlands to the semifinal before losing to Portugal. In that year, he provided assists for his teammates, Wilfred Bouma, Ruud van Nistelrooy, and Roy Makaay, with one each. The Netherlands ended up losing to Portugal in the semifinal.
In Euro 2008, Netherland took the Euro by storm and instantly became a number one favourite to be the champions. During the group stage phase, the 1988 champions beat two giants, France and Italy. Escaping the group stage with nine points.
Robben collected one assist when Netherlands beat France 4-1 in the group stage His pass was converted to a goal by Robin van Persie in that game. But Robben did not play in the quarterfinal when his teammates lost to Russia. Four years later in 2012, he made two other assists against Germany and Portugal in the group stage but Netherland were out early after failing to win a single game.
Karel Poborsky – 8
Poborsky made a total of 14 appearances in Euro for Czech Republic. Appearing in three editions of Euro from 1996 to 2004, he produced three assists on his inaugural edition with three collections. He took his country all the way to the final in England before losing to Germany.
Four years later in Belgium and Netherlands, Poborsky only delivered one assist and it was for Vladimir Smicer in the group stage against Denmark. Czech finished third in the group stage after losing twice, against France and Netherlands.
Poborsky produced the most assists in the latest edition, with four collections. He led Czech to the semi-final before losing 0-1 to Greece, who eventually won the trophy after beating Portugal in the final.
Cristiano Ronaldo – 10
When Poborsky played his final edition of Euro in 2004, the young Ronaldo had just started it. During his career, the Madeira native has participated in five editions, up until the latest one in 2021.
Ronaldo’s first Euro assist came in the group stage of Euro 2004 against Russia when Portugal won 2-0. He provided the pass that led to a goal for Portugal legend, Rui Costa. The most assists he produced was during his participation in Austria and Switzerland (2008) and France (2016).