Analysis of the best playmaking seasons

Henry 2002/03:

37 games, 20 assists (165,1 minutes per assist)





0:21 - 4
0:28 - 3
0:51 - 3
1:25 - 4
1:47 - 3
2:05 - 2
3:06 - 4/5
3:33 - 4/5
4:11 - 3
4:47 - 3
5:08 - 3/4
5:18 - 2/3
5:37 - 3
5:44 - 4
6:12 - 3
6:21 - 3/4
6:34 - 3/4

Accumulated: 57
Average: 3,35

The similar case as for Ronaldinho, some clips are cut too much.

Ranking so far:

Accumulated:

1. Muller (68,5)
2. De Bruyne (68,5)
3. Henry (57)
4. Ronaldinho (55,5)

Average:

1. Ronaldinho (3,96)
2. Muller (3,43)
3. De Bruyne (3,43)
4. Henry (3,35)

 

Thankfully, the list is not that.

I know playmaking is the wrong word but how else would i call it, "the best assists providing seasons" sounds silly to me.

 

Ozil 2015/16:

35 games, 19 assists (160,5 minutes per assist)





0:07 - 3
0:19 - 5
0:34 - 4
0:46 - 4
1:15 - 1
1:28 - 3
1:49 - 4
2:11 - 3/4
2:27 - 4/5
3:13 - 4
3:24 - 3
3:35 - 1/2
3:47 - 3
5:02 - 4/5
5:23 - 3/4

Accumulated: 51,5
Average: 3,43

Rankings (the best open-play assists-providing league seasons):

Accumulated:

1. Muller 20 (68,5)
2. De Bruyne 20 (68,5)
3. Henry 03 (57)
4. Ronaldinho 10 (55,5)
5. Ozil 16 (51,5)

Average:

1. Ronaldinho 10 (3,96)
2. Muller 20 (3,43)
3. De Bruyne 20 (3,43)
4. Ozil 16 (3,43)
5. Henry 03 (3,35)

 

Messi 2019/20:

33 games, 21 assists (137,2 minutes per assist)





0:33 - 3
0:44 - 4/5
1:03 - 4/5
1:30 - 3
1:41 - 4/5
2:05 - 3/4
2:29 - 4
3:20 - 4/5
3:40 - 3
3:56 - 4
4:13 - 1
4:45 - 3
4:55 - 3/4
5:17 - 3
5:33 - 3
5:47 - 2

Accumulated: 54
Average: 3,38

Rankings (the best open-play assists-providing league seasons):

Accumulated:

1. Muller 20 (68,5)
2. De Bruyne 20 (68,5)
3. Henry 03 (57)
4. Ronaldinho 10 (55,5)
5. Messi 20 (54)
6. Ozil 16 (51,5)

Average:

1. Ronaldinho 10 (3,96)
2. Muller 20 (3,43)
3. De Bruyne 20 (3,43)
4. Ozil 16 (3,43)
5. Messi 20 (3,38)
6. Henry 03 (3,35)

 

Xavi 2008/09:

36 games, 20 assists (149,2 minutes per assist)





0:47 - 3
0:56 - 3/4
1:03 - 3
1:13 - 4/5
1:18 - 4
1:26 - 3
1:36 - 3/4
1:42 - 3
1:53 - 2/3
2:03 - 4/5
2:11 - 3/4
2:16 - 2
2:24 - 4
2:34 - 3/4
2:41 - 4/5
2:49 - 4/5

Accumulated: 53,5
Average: 3,34

Accumulated:

1. Muller 20 (68,5)
2. De Bruyne 20 (68,5)
3. Henry 03 (57)
4. Ronaldinho 10 (55,5)
5. Messi 20 (54)
6. Xavi 09 (53,5)
7. Ozil 16 (51,5)

Average:

1. Ronaldinho 10 (3,96)
2. Muller 20 (3,43)
3. De Bruyne 20 (3,43)
4. Ozil 16 (3,43)
5. Messi 20 (3,38)
6. Henry 03 (3,35)
7. Xavi 09 (3,34)

@SayWhatIWant , comment if you want, but reasonably, don't spam.

 

Zidane 2000/01

33 games, 15 assists (164,5 minutes per assist)





0:00 - 4
0:18 - 3
0:26 - 3
0:40 - 4
0:59 - 4
1:25 - 4
1:41 - 3
1:52 - 3/4
non-opta
1:58 - 2
2:04 - 5
2:20 - 1
2:45 - 3/4
3:12 - 4/5
3:29 - 4/5

*forgot to exclude non-opta from Xavi

Accumulated: 47
Average: 3,62

Accumulated:

1. Muller 20 (68,5)
2. De Bruyne 20 (68,5)
3. Henry 03 (57)
4. Ronaldinho 10 (55,5)
5. Messi 20 (54)
6. Xavi 09 (53,5)
7. Ozil 16 (51,5)
8. Zidane (47)

Average:

1. Ronaldinho 10 (3,96)
2. Zidane (3,62)
3. Muller 20 (3,43)
4. De Bruyne 20 (3,43)
5. Ozil 16 (3,43)
6. Messi 20 (3,38)
7. Henry 03 (3,35)
8. Xavi 09 (3,34)

 

Di Maria 2014 was one of the first players that came to mind and I've found only that footage. It is on my to-do list. Hopefully that footage is enough.

I have plenty of seasons in mind for recent players. Any suggestions for some former players (with footage of course)?

Btw, will do Figo 99 and Figo 00 soon. There is a footage for it.

 

Cristiano Ronaldo 2014/15:

35 games, 16 assists (193,7 minutes per assist)





3:09 - 3
5:00 - 4/5
5:25 - 1
5:35 - 2/3
5:49 - 4
6:16 - 4
6:49 - 3/4
7:08 - 2/3
8:30 - 4/5
9:15 - 4
9:56 - 1
11:52 - 2/3
12:19 - 3
12:36 - 3
13:50 - 3

Accumulated: 45,5
Average: 3,03

Accumulated:

1. Muller 20 (68,5)
2. De Bruyne 20 (68,5)
3. Henry 03 (57)
4. Ronaldinho 10 (55,5)
5. Messi 20 (54)
6. Xavi 09 (53,5)
7. Ozil 16 (51,5)
8. Zidane (47)
9. Cristiano (45,5)

Average:

1. Ronaldinho 10 (3,96)
2. Zidane (3,62)
3. Muller 20 (3,43)
4. De Bruyne 20 (3,43)
5. Ozil 16 (3,43)
6. Messi 20 (3,38)
7. Henry 03 (3,35)
8. Xavi 09 (3,34)
9. Cristiano (3,03)

 

Rankings:

Accumulated:

1. Muller 20 (68,5)
2. De Bruyne 20 (68,5)
3. Henry 03 (57)
4. Ronaldinho 10 (55,5)
5. Messi 20 (54)
6. Xavi 09 (53,5)
7. Ozil 16 (51,5)
8. Zidane 01 (47)
9. Cristiano 15 (45,5)

Average:

1. Ronaldinho 10 (3,96)
2. Zidane 01 (3,62)
3. Muller 20 (3,43)
4. De Bruyne 20 (3,43)
5. Ozil 16 (3,43)
6. Messi 20 (3,38)
7. Henry 03 (3,35)
8. Xavi 09 (3,34)
9. Cristiano 15 (3,03)

Overall (formula: accumulated x average ÷ 3):

1. Muller 20 (78,3)
2. De Bruyne 20 (78,3)
3. Ronaldinho 10 (73,3)
4. Henry 03 (63,7)
5. Messi 20 (60,8)
6. Xavi 09 (59,6)
7. Ozil 16 (58,9)
8. Zidane 01 (56,7)
9. Cristiano 15 (46)

 

Figo 1998/99:

34 games (3012 minutes), 17 assists (177,2 minutes per assist)





4:27 - 4
4:36 - 4/5
4:44 - 2
4:52 - 4
5:01 - 4/5
5:09 - 4/5
5:16 - 4
5:38 - 5
non opta
5:55 - 3/4
6:02 - 4
6:07 - 3
6:12 - 3
6:16 - 4

Set pieces:

4:33
5:22
5:32
5:35
5:52

Accumulated: 46,5
Average: 3,88
Overall: 60,0

Rankings:

Accumulated:

1. Muller 20 (68,5)
2. De Bruyne 20 (68,5)
3. Henry 03 (57)
4. Ronaldinho 10 (55,5)
5. Messi 20 (54)
6. Xavi 09 (53,5)
7. Ozil 16 (51,5)
8. Zidane 01 (47)
9. Figo 99 (46,5)
10. Cristiano 15 (45,5)

Average:

1. Ronaldinho 10 (3,96)
2. Figo 99 (3,88)
3. Zidane 01 (3,62)
4. Muller 20 (3,43)
5. De Bruyne 20 (3,43)
6. Ozil 16 (3,43)
7. Messi 20 (3,38)
8. Henry 03 (3,35)
9. Xavi 09 (3,34)
10. Cristiano 15 (3,03)

Overall (accumulated x average ÷ 3):

1. Muller 20 (78,3)
2. De Bruyne 20 (78,3)
3. Ronaldinho 10 (73,3)
4. Henry 03 (63,7)
5. Messi 20 (60,8)
6. Figo 99 (60,0)
7. Xavi 09 (59,6)
8. Ozil 16 (58,9)
9. Zidane 01 (56,7)
10. Cristiano 15 (46,0)

 

Fabregas 2014/15:

34 games (2890 minutes), 17 assists (according to video; 170,0 minutes per assist)





Open play:

0:00 - 3/4
0:33 - 3/4
2:24 - 3/4
3:15 - 4
3:36 - 4/5
4:34 - 4
4:50 - 4
5:29 - 1/2
5:49 - 4/5

Set pieces:

1:10
1:31
1:49
2:05
2:58
4:04
4:26
6:25

Accumulated: 33
Average: 3,67
Overall: 40,3

Rankings (the best open-play assists-providing league campaigns):

Accumulated:

1. Muller 20 (68,5)
2. De Bruyne 20 (68,5)
3. Henry 03 (57)
4. Ronaldinho 10 (55,5)
5. Messi 20 (54)
6. Xavi 09 (53,5)
7. Ozil 16 (51,5)
8. Zidane 01 (47)
9. Figo 99 (46,5)
10. Cristiano 15 (45,5)
11. Fabregas 15 (33)

Average:

1. Ronaldinho 10 (3,96)
2. Figo 99 (3,88)
3. Fabregas 15 (3,67)
4. Zidane 01 (3,62)
5. Muller 20 (3,43)
6. De Bruyne 20 (3,43)
7. Ozil 16 (3,43)
8. Messi 20 (3,38)
9. Henry 03 (3,35)
10. Xavi 09 (3,34)
11. Cristiano 15 (3,03)

Overall (accumulated x average ÷ 3):

1. Muller 20 (78,3)
2. De Bruyne 20 (78,3)
3. Ronaldinho 10 (73,3)
4. Henry 03 (63,7)
5. Messi 20 (60,8)
6. Figo 99 (60,0)
7. Xavi 09 (59,6)
8. Ozil 16 (58,9)
9. Zidane 01 (56,7)
10. Cristiano 15 (46,0)
11. Fabregas 15 (40,3)

 

Neymar 2017/18:

20 games (1788 minutes), 13 assists (137,5 minutes per assist)





Open play:

0:26 - 4/5
1:26 - 1/2
2:21 - 4
4:06 - 4
6:28 - 3
6:58 - 3
7:08 - 4
7:37 - 2
8:37 - 2
9:44 - 3
11:34 - 5
11:50 - 4/5

Set piece:

1:40

Accumulated: 40,5
Average: 3,38
Overall: 45,6

Rankings (the best open-play assists-providing league campaigns):

Accumulated:

1. Muller 20 (68,5)
2. De Bruyne 20 (68,5)
3. Henry 03 (57)
4. Ronaldinho 10 (55,5)
5. Messi 20 (54)
6. Xavi 09 (53,5)
7. Ozil 16 (51,5)
8. Zidane 01 (47)
9. Figo 99 (46,5)
10. Cristiano 15 (45,5)
11. Neymar 18 (40,5)
12. Fabregas 15 (33)

Average:

1. Ronaldinho 10 (3,96)
2. Figo 99 (3,88)
3. Fabregas 15 (3,67)
4. Zidane 01 (3,62)
5. Muller 20 (3,43)
6. De Bruyne 20 (3,43)
7. Ozil 16 (3,43)
8. Messi 20 (3,38)
9. Neymar 18 (3,38)
10. Henry 03 (3,35)
11. Xavi 09 (3,34)
12. Cristiano 15 (3,03)

Overall (accumulated x average ÷ 3):

1. Muller 20 (78,3)
2. De Bruyne 20 (78,3)
3. Ronaldinho 10 (73,3)
4. Henry 03 (63,7)
5. Messi 20 (60,8)
6. Figo 99 (60,0)
7. Xavi 09 (59,6)
8. Ozil 16 (58,9)
9. Zidane 01 (56,7)
10. Cristiano 15 (46,0)
11. Neymar 18 (45,6)
12. Fabregas 15 (40,3)

 

Ousmane Dembele 2021/22:

21 games (1413 minutes; 15,7), 13 assists (108,7 minutes per assist)





Open play:

0:26 - 3/4
0:32 - 4
0:38 - 4
0:52 - 4
0:56 - 4
1:03 - 3/4
1:09 - 3
1:22 - 2
1:31 - 3
1:40 - 3

Set pieces:

0:47
1:16
1:45

Accumulated: 34
Average: 3,40
Overall: 38,5
Overall P90: 2,45

Rankings (the best open-play assists-providing league campaigns):

Accumulated:

1. Muller 20 (68,5)
2. De Bruyne 20 (68,5)
3. Henry 03 (57)
4. Ronaldinho 10 (55,5)
5. Messi 20 (54)
6. Xavi 09 (53,5)
7. Ozil 16 (51,5)
8. Zidane 01 (47)
9. Figo 99 (46,5)
10. Cristiano 15 (45,5)
11. Neymar 18 (40,5)
12. Dembele 22 (34)
13. Fabregas 15 (33)

Average:

1. Ronaldinho 10 (3,96)
2. Figo 99 (3,88)
3. Fabregas 15 (3,67)
4. Zidane 01 (3,62)
5. Muller 20 (3,43)
6. De Bruyne 20 (3,43)
7. Ozil 16 (3,43)
8. Dembele 22 (3,40)
9. Messi 20 (3,38)
10. Neymar 18 (3,38)
11. Henry 03 (3,35)
12. Xavi 09 (3,34)
13. Cristiano 15 (3,03)

Overall (accumulated x average ÷ 3):

1. Muller 20 (78,3)
2. De Bruyne 20 (78,3)
3. Ronaldinho 10 (73,3)
4. Henry 03 (63,7)
5. Messi 20 (60,8)
6. Figo 99 (60,0)
7. Xavi 09 (59,6)
8. Ozil 16 (58,9)
9. Zidane 01 (56,7)
10. Cristiano 15 (46,0)
11. Neymar 18 (45,6)
12. Fabregas 15 (40,3)
13. Dembele 22 (38,5)

 

Griezmann 2022/23:

38 games (2863 minutes; 31,8), 16 assists (178,9 minutes per assist)





Open play:

0:33 - 4
0:43 - 4/5
1:02 - 2
1:10 - 3
1:24 - 4
1:30 - 3/4
in CDR, but a phenomenal assist worthy of highlighting
2:25 - 4/5
2:36 - 2/3
2:53 - 5
3:10 - 3/4
3:44 - 3
3:51 - 3
3:57 - 3/4

Set pieces:

non-opta
0:29
1:39
1:52
2:43
4:03

Accumulated: 41,5
Average: 3,46
Overall: 47,8
Overall P90: 1,50

Griezmann is such an underrated creator. Very impressed.

Rankings (the best open-play assists-providing league campaigns):

Accumulated:

1. Muller 20 (68,5)
2. De Bruyne 20 (68,5)
3. Henry 03 (57)
4. Ronaldinho 10 (55,5)
5. Messi 20 (54)
6. Xavi 09 (53,5)
7. Ozil 16 (51,5)
8. Zidane 01 (47)
9. Figo 99 (46,5)
10. Cristiano 15 (45,5)
11. Griezmann 23 (41,5)
12. Neymar 18 (40,5)
13. Dembele 22 (34)
14. Fabregas 15 (33)

Average:

1. Ronaldinho 10 (3,96)
2. Figo 99 (3,88)
3. Fabregas 15 (3,67)
4. Zidane 01 (3,62)
5. Griezmann 23 (3,46)
6. Muller 20 (3,43)
7. De Bruyne 20 (3,43)
8. Ozil 16 (3,43)
9. Dembele 22 (3,40)
10. Messi 20 (3,38)
11. Neymar 18 (3,38)
12. Henry 03 (3,35)
13. Xavi 09 (3,34)
14. Cristiano 15 (3,03)

Overall (accumulated x average ÷ 3):

1. Muller 20 (78,3)
2. De Bruyne 20 (78,3)
3. Ronaldinho 10 (73,3)
4. Henry 03 (63,7)
5. Messi 20 (60,8)
6. Figo 99 (60,0)
7. Xavi 09 (59,6)
8. Ozil 16 (58,9)
9. Zidane 01 (56,7)
10. Griezmann 23 (47,8)
11. Cristiano 15 (46,0)
12. Neymar 18 (45,6)
13. Fabregas 15 (40,3)
14. Dembele 22 (38,5)

 

No. It is not worthy of 5/5 rating. This is not gymnastics where you get stylistic points. The only thing that matters is quality and effectivness of the pass because the only thing that counts in football are goals. It can be your personal favorite. That is different. I personally like the pass at 8:30 much, much more because of its simplicity.

Also it can never be a 5/5 pass when Ronaldo recieves the pass so close to the goal with so much time and space. He also had other passing lines available like the one from the run from the right wing. These are all things I take into consideration when evaluating all other assists. The same criteria is applied to all others.

I've given so far maybe 9 perfect 5s and I think I overdid it with De Bruyne (it was my first evaluation). Perfect 5s should not be thrown out at random for every backheel pass. Neither did I give Messi 5 for any of few spectacular passes if that is your concern.

Regarding the other point. First of all, it is an assist. It is officially assist. And LOL, it is a pretty significant deflection that turned a shot that was going wide into a goal.

I thought about what to do with those cases because indeed such assists lower player's average quality of assists and overall score for no fault of their own (Ronaldo would have 48,5 overall score rather than 46,0 and his average would go up to 3,35)

so I guess from now on I will simply disqualify any assist that gets a rating bellow 2 as if it has never happened but of course will make that transparent.

 

This is a 5 for example

View attachment 245946

 

Di Maria 2013/14:

34 games (2384 minutes; 26,5), 17 assists (140,2 minutes per assist)





Open play:

7:45 - 2
8:15 - 4/5
8:24 - 4
8:34 - 4/5
8:41 - 3/4
8:49 - 3/4
9:01 - 3/4
9:10 - 5
9:20 - 2/3
9:32 - 3/4
9:46 - 3/4
9:52 - 3
10:02 - 3

Set pieces:

6:48
7:21
7:39

*one assist seems to be missing from the video.

Accumulated: 46
Average: 3,54
Overall: 54,3
Overall P90: 2,05

@lessthanjake

Rankings (the best open-play assists-providing league campaigns):

Accumulated:

1. Muller 20 (68,5)
2. De Bruyne 20 (68,5)
3. Henry 03 (57)
4. Ronaldinho 10 (55,5)
5. Messi 20 (54)
6. Xavi 09 (53,5)
7. Ozil 16 (51,5)
8. Zidane 01 (47)
9. Figo 99 (46,5)
10. Di Maria 14 (46)
11. Cristiano 15 (45,5)
12. Griezmann 23 (41,5)
13. Neymar 18 (40,5)
14. Dembele 22 (34)
15. Fabregas 15 (33)

Average:

1. Ronaldinho 10 (3,96)
2. Figo 99 (3,88)
3. Fabregas 15 (3,67)
4. Zidane 01 (3,62)
5. Di Maria 14 (3,54)
6. Griezmann 23 (3,46)
7. Muller 20 (3,43)
8. De Bruyne 20 (3,43)
9. Ozil 16 (3,43)
10. Dembele 22 (3,40)
11. Messi 20 (3,38)
12. Neymar 18 (3,38)
13. Henry 03 (3,35)
14. Xavi 09 (3,34)
15. Cristiano 15 (3,03)

Overall (accumulated x average ÷ 3):

1. Muller 20 (78,3)
2. De Bruyne 20 (78,3)
3. Ronaldinho 10 (73,3)
4. Henry 03 (63,7)
5. Messi 20 (60,8)
6. Figo 99 (60,0)
7. Xavi 09 (59,6)
8. Ozil 16 (58,9)
9. Zidane 01 (56,7)
10. Di Maria 14 (54,3)
11. Griezmann 23 (47,8)
12. Cristiano 15 (46,0)
13. Neymar 18 (45,6)
14. Fabregas 15 (40,3)
15. Dembele 22 (38,5)

 

Baggio 1995/96:

28 games (2007 minutes, 22,3), 12 assists (167,3 minutes per assist)





Open play:

1:38 - 3/4
2:34 - 4/5
2:47 - 4
3:28 - 5
4:35 - 3

Set pieces:

0:05
0:45
1:12
3:01
3:20
3:58
4:43

Accumulated: 20
Average: 4,00
Overall: 26,7
Overall P90: 1,20

Rankings (the best open-play assists-providing league campaigns):

Accumulated:

1. Muller 20 (68,5)
2. De Bruyne 20 (68,5)
3. Henry 03 (57)
4. Ronaldinho 10 (55,5)
5. Messi 20 (54)
6. Xavi 09 (53,5)
7. Ozil 16 (51,5)
8. Zidane 01 (47)
9. Figo 99 (46,5)
10. Di Maria 14 (46)
11. Cristiano 15 (45,5)
12. Griezmann 23 (41,5)
13. Neymar 18 (40,5)
14. Dembele 22 (34)
15. Fabregas 15 (33)
16. Baggio 96 (20)

Average:

1. Baggio 96 (4,00)
2. Ronaldinho 10 (3,96)
3. Figo 99 (3,88)
4. Fabregas 15 (3,67)
5. Zidane 01 (3,62)
6. Di Maria 14 (3,54)
7. Griezmann 23 (3,46)
8. Muller 20 (3,43)
9. De Bruyne 20 (3,43)
10. Ozil 16 (3,43)
11. Dembele 22 (3,40)
12. Messi 20 (3,38)
13. Neymar 18 (3,38)
14. Henry 03 (3,35)
15. Xavi 09 (3,34)
16. Cristiano 15 (3,03)

Overall (accumulated x average ÷ 3):

1. Muller 20 (78,3)
2. De Bruyne 20 (78,3)
3. Ronaldinho 10 (73,3)
4. Henry 03 (63,7)
5. Messi 20 (60,8)
6. Figo 99 (60,0)
7. Xavi 09 (59,6)
8. Ozil 16 (58,9)
9. Zidane 01 (56,7)
10. Di Maria 14 (54,3)
11. Griezmann 23 (47,8)
12. Cristiano 15 (46,0)
13. Neymar 18 (45,6)
14. Fabregas 15 (40,3)
15. Dembele 22 (38,5)
16. Baggio 96 (26,7)

 

Messi 2014/15:

38 games (3375 minutes; 37,5), 18 assists (187,5 minutes per assist)





Open play:

0:15 - 3/4
0:26 - 4
0:42 - 4/5
0:56 - 3
1:04 - 4/5
1:15 - 3
1:23 - 4
1:32 - 3/4
1:42 - 4
1:53 - 4/5
2:02 - 2
2:11 - 3
2:21 - 4
2:32 - 3/4
2:52 - 3/4
3:06 - 4
3:15 - 4/5

Set piece:

2:41

Accumulated: 63
Average: 3,71
Overall: 77,8
Overall P90: 2,08

Rankings (the best open-play assists-providing league campaigns):

Accumulated:

1. Muller 20 (68,5)
2. De Bruyne 20 (68,5)
3. Messi 15 (63)
4. Henry 03 (57)
5. Ronaldinho 10 (55,5)
6. Messi 20 (54)
7. Xavi 09 (53,5)
8. Ozil 16 (51,5)
9. Zidane 01 (47)
10. Figo 99 (46,5)
11. Di Maria 14 (46)
12. Cristiano 15 (45,5)
13. Griezmann 23 (41,5)
14. Neymar 18 (40,5)
15. Dembele 22 (34)
16. Fabregas 15 (33)
17. Baggio 96 (20)

Average:

1. Baggio 96 (4,00)
2. Ronaldinho 10 (3,96)
3. Figo 99 (3,88)
4. Messi 15 (3,71)
5. Fabregas 15 (3,67)
6. Zidane 01 (3,62)
7. Di Maria 14 (3,54)
8. Griezmann 23 (3,46)
9. Muller 20 (3,43)
10. De Bruyne 20 (3,43)
11. Ozil 16 (3,43)
12. Dembele 22 (3,40)
13. Messi 20 (3,38)
14. Neymar 18 (3,38)
15. Henry 03 (3,35)
16. Xavi 09 (3,34)
17. Cristiano 15 (3,03)

Overall (accumulated x average ÷ 3):

1. Muller 20 (78,3)
2. De Bruyne 20 (78,3)
3. Messi 15 (77,8)
4. Ronaldinho 10 (73,3)
5. Henry 03 (63,7)
6. Messi 20 (60,8)
7. Figo 99 (60,0)
8. Xavi 09 (59,6)
9. Ozil 16 (58,9)
10. Zidane 01 (56,7)
11. Di Maria 14 (54,3)
12. Griezmann 23 (47,8)
13. Cristiano 15 (46,0)
14. Neymar 18 (45,6)
15. Fabregas 15 (40,3)
16. Dembele 22 (38,5)
17. Baggio 96 (26,7)

 

Everything regarding playmaking abilities (final pass and chance creation) and output is more than welcome in this thread. I do plan on expanding conversation beyond analysis of open play assists eventually, but it becomes much more daunting task and data and footage becomes even more scarce for players from the past..

However, having seen and tried to evaluate bunch of assists so far, currently I am trying to develop a definitive and structured way of evaluating assists based on objective criteria (also I am thinking about mathematical formula that would evaluate overall playmaking performance based on quality and quantity of assists, attacking strength of player's team, minutes played, etc.)

I would love any feedback, advice, perspective or criticism regarding that.

So far, this is how I think about each assist. It is a sort of questionnaire:

1. How big of a chance is created?

There are few elements that constitute big chance:

1. Distance and angle from the goal.
2. Time and space on the ball.
3. Usefulness of the pass.

So essentially xA (the first two points). Ideally the perfect assist puts you close to the goal, in a central position and neither defenders or goalkeeper are there to put an immediate pressure and therefore hinder the finisher.

The other element is the one I dont think xA puts much emphasis on or can be objectively measured which is the usefulness of the pass. By that I mean how controlable the pass is to, well, control it with first touch or shot it the first time.

In that sense, an ideal big chance also comes from a grounded pass (opposed to bouncing or floating pass) of a medium to low speed, from an easy angle to recieve the pass and with no spin on the ball. Anything else?

The rule that I follow here is that every 4+ rated assist must be a big chance, although that doesnt mean that every big chance is necessarily rated 4+, which leads me to the next question I ask myself.

2. How advantageous was the situation from which the pass came?

Similarily, assist is evaluated based on opportunities or the level of expected threat in the moment of passing.

The level of expected threat is determined by few elements as well:

1. Distance and angle from which the pass came.
2. Time and space on the ball for the passer.
3. Initial time and space available for the eventual reciever of the pass.

So ideally, the perfect pass comes from deep positions under pressure and difficult angle, picks up a teammate who was tightly marked in the moment of the pass and creates ideal big chance.

The perfect pass transforms a situation of the low level of expected threat into ideal big chance.

This can be sort of visualized as a snapshot of the moment of the pass and the moment it was recieved and then evaluated how big of a difference it is between the two.

This answers the question of when does a big chance is not evaluated as 4+. It's when the big chance is created from an already promising situation. An example would be creation of a big chance from a simple squared pass. That is a pass that is reasonably expected at that moment. In that case I opt for the rating of 3 unless there are additional elements to the assist that I will explain shortly.

The next two questions on the list are the most inteprerable ones imo:

3. What is the level of technical abilities required to execute the pass?

4. What is the level of creativity and vision (awareness) required to see the pass?

Technical ability required to execute the pass is evaluated based on:

1. The difficulty level of the chosen type of pass.
2. The length and angle of the pass.
3. The margin of error that is permitted.

Technically perfect pass is a long pass from a difficult angle tland of a specific and difficult technique that has a small margin of error.

Creativity and vision are evaluated based on:

1. Novelty of the pass.
2. Crowdedness of the situation.

Pass that is perfect in terms of creativity and vision is an unusual pass that uses a novel solution and comes from crowded situations.

5. What was players involvement in build up prior to the pass?

Lastly, assist is evaluated based on how much impact player had in creating the opportunity to pass.

Elements considered here are:

1. Off the ball movement.
2. Progression of the ball via dribbling.
3. Progression of the ball via passing and teamwork.

Ideal involvement prior to making the pass includes exceptional effort in off the ball movement, dribbling or passing such as one-twos.

This is a superseding concept to the question number 2.

A simple squared pass that creates a big chance is not evaluated as 3 if there is an exceptional effort that created the passing opportunity.

So this is a full breakdown and explanation of how I think and evaluate assists.

It is still very much down to interpretation of each question and hard to fairly and consistently follow which I would like to eliminate and automate.

An idea that I have that I havent tested or used so far is to evaluate each assist based on this kind of breakdown then let the cumulative number determine overall quality of the assist.

For example, to evaluate assist based on 1st and 2nd question on the scale from 1 to 5 and based on the other 3 questions from 1 to 3. Add those numbers and compare it to overall rating scale.

In such case normal (average) assist would create a good chance (3/5) come from the reasonable level of threat (3/5), require medium level of technique (2/3) and creativity and vision (2/3) and have a medium level of involvment in build up (2/3).

It adds up to 12 which equals 3/5 overall rating.

The scale that would make sense in this case would be:

1 (5-6)
1/2 (7)
2 (8-9)
2/3 (10)
3 (11-12)
3/4 (13)
4 (14-15)
4/5 (16)
5 (17-19)

I need to test that and make it bulletproof.

Any suggestions are welcome.