In football, scoring goals wins games—but creating them wins hearts. The greatest players aren’t just prolific scorers; they are also the architects behind unforgettable moments. Modern analytics have finally allowed fans to measure a player’s combined output of goals + assists, revealing who truly influenced the game the most.
With over a decade of experience studying football history and analytics, I’ve compiled the ultimate list of the top 10 footballers with the most combined goals and assists. These legends shaped eras, dominated leagues, and rewrote record books with their extraordinary productivity.
Let’s dive into the iconic names whose impact on the pitch goes far beyond the highlight reels.
1. Lionel Messi — 1,300+ Goal Contributions
Goals: 800+
Assists: 350+
Clubs: Barcelona, PSG, Inter Miami
Lionel Messi sits at the top of the football world when it comes to combined goal contributions. With unmatched vision, close control, dribbling, and an extraordinary football IQ, Messi has produced one of the most remarkable careers ever seen.
Why Messi Leads:
- All-time leader in assists
- Most goals for a single club (Barcelona – 672)
- Only player with 40+ goal contributions in 10+ seasons
Messi isn’t just a scorer. He’s a playmaker, conductor, and game-breaker rolled into one.
2. Cristiano Ronaldo — 1,150+ Goal Contributions
Goals: 900+
Assists: 250+
Clubs: Sporting, Manchester United, Real Madrid, Juventus, Al-Nassr
Cristiano Ronaldo is the all-time leading goalscorer in football history. His biggest strength? Longevity and evolution. Whether as a winger or striker, Ronaldo created and finished chances at a rate never seen before.
Career Heights:
- Most Champions League goals
- Most international goals in history
- 30+ goal contributions for 15 consecutive seasons
A perfect athlete with elite finishing instincts, Ronaldo remains one of the greatest attacking forces of all time.
3. Pelé — 1,100+ Goal Contributions
Goals: 767 (official), 1,283 (including friendlies)
Assists: 300+ (estimated)
Clubs: Santos, New York Cosmos
Pelé was football’s first global superstar. He wasn’t just a scorer; he was a master creator.
Known For:
- 3× World Cup winner
- One of the most complete forwards ever
- Exceptional dribbling and team play
While record-keeping wasn’t perfect during his era, Pelé’s numbers still tower above most modern legends.
4. Diego Maradona — 700+ Goal Contributions
Goals: 350+
Assists: 350+
Clubs: Argentinos Juniors, Boca Juniors, Barcelona, Napoli
Diego Maradona was more creator than scorer, yet he excelled at both. His Napoli years cemented him as one of the greatest attacking forces ever.
Highlights:
- Carried Argentina to the 1986 World Cup
- Single-handedly transformed Napoli
- One of the best passers ever
Maradona’s creativity and dribbling unlocked defenses like no other player in his time.
5. Neymar Jr. — 750+ Goal Contributions
Goals: 450+
Assists: 300+
Clubs: Santos, Barcelona, PSG, Al-Hilal
Neymar is one of the most gifted attackers the world has ever seen. Despite recurring injuries, his output remains extraordinary.
Why Neymar Is Special:
- Elite creator with magical flair
- Brazil’s all-time top scorer
- Key member of one of the greatest trios (MSN)
If not for injuries, he might have easily surpassed 1,000 contributions.
6. Luis Suárez — 700+ Goal Contributions
Goals: 530+
Assists: 170+
Clubs: Ajax, Liverpool, Barcelona, Atlético Madrid
Suárez is arguably the best pure striker of the modern era—clinical finishing, fierce intensity, clever movement, and brilliant link-up play.
Career Highlights:
- One of few players to win Golden Boots in different leagues
- 40-goal La Liga season
- Key creator even as a striker
Among strikers, he is one of the best playmakers ever.
7. Robert Lewandowski — 650+ Goal Contributions
Goals: 600+
Assists: 80+
Clubs: Dortmund, Bayern Munich, Barcelona
Lewandowski is the modern definition of a goal machine. His positional awareness and finishing ability are unmatched.
Why He’s Unique:
- Scored 5 goals in 9 minutes (world record)
- Multiple 40+ goal seasons
- Best striker in Bundesliga history
Lewandowski is the ultimate model of consistency.
8. Thierry Henry — 500+ Goal Contributions
Goals: 400+
Assists: 100+
Clubs: Monaco, Juventus, Arsenal, Barcelona
Henry was the complete forward—speed, dribbling, elegance, passing, and finishing.
Legendary Achievements:
- Arsenal’s all-time leading goalscorer
- 2× Premier League Golden Boot
- Creator supreme with elite vision
Henry remains the Premier League’s greatest-ever forward.
9. Karim Benzema — 600+ Goal Contributions
Goals: 450+
Assists: 160+
Clubs: Lyon, Real Madrid
Benzema’s greatness went beyond goals. His ability to create play, drop deep, and orchestrate attacks made him the perfect modern No. 9.
Career Peaks:
- UCL top scorer in 2022
- Key part of 5 Champions League titles
- One of the best playmaking strikers in history
His late-career evolution was extraordinary.
10. Thomas Müller — 550+ Goal Contributions
Goals: 250+
Assists: 300+
Club: Bayern Munich
Thomas Müller is football’s most underrated legend. His specialty—raumdeuter, or “space interpreter”—allowed him to assist and score at elite rates for over a decade.
What Makes Müller Great:
- All-time Bundesliga assist leader
- World Cup Golden Boot winner
- A master of movement and IQ
Müller proves that you don’t need flashy skills to dominate the game.
Why Goals + Assists Matter More Than Ever
Traditional statistics focused heavily on goals. But the true measure of attacking greatness combines both scoring and playmaking.
Why this metric is superior:
- Shows full attacking contribution
- Highlights complete players
- Reveals the role of creators
- Offers deeper tactical understanding
Some players excel in scoring, others in creating—and the very best do both.
FAQs — Footballers With the Most Goals & Assists
1. Who has the most combined goals and assists in football history?
Lionel Messi leads with over 1,300 goal contributions.
2. Who is the highest goalscorer ever?
Cristiano Ronaldo, with 900+ official goals.
3. Who is the best playmaker of all time?
Messi, Xavi, and Maradona are often considered the greatest.
4. Which striker has the most assists?
Thierry Henry and Karim Benzema rank among the highest-assisting strikers.
5. Is Pelé’s goal record official?
Pelé scored 767 official goals, but Santos claims higher totals including friendlies.