Belgium international and Manchester City talisman Kevin De Bruyne has been given the laurel for most decisive attacking midfielder of the 21st century, leading a list of star names in football over the last two decades, according to research.
The City’s playmaker has been nothing less than sensational during a career that began with Belgian side Genk before surviving a turbulent spell at Chelsea to finally flourish into a world class player at Manchester City under the watchful eyes and tutelage of Pep Guardiola.
During his time at the Etihad, De Bruyne has scored 97 goals and provided 155 assists, an incredible track record for one of the best attacking midfielders in world football.Figures from PopFoot show the Belgian amassing a total of 169 career goals and 283 assists during his career for both club and country – staggering figures which puts him top of the pile among very highly-esteemed company.
De Bruyne even ended up well ahead of the runner-up, Kaka, a former Ballon d’Or winner who played for AC Milan and Real Madrid.
Kaka registered an impressive combination of 398 goals and assists during his glittering career, with 236 goals and 162 assists that saw him help AC Milan to the Champions League in 2006-07 before winning the LaLiga with the Madridistas in 2011-2012. In third place is David Silva, who – like De Bruyne – displayed his wizardry in midfield for Man City, ending his career with 360 combined goals and assists.
Rounding off the top five are former Arsenal midfielder Mesut Ozil, who became famed for his incredible vision and passing at Real Madrid before securing a £42million move to Arsenal in 2013. He managed 361 goals and assists in total – with his 240 assists being the second-highest overall.
MOST DECISIVE ATTACKING MIDS OF 21ST CENTURY
- Kevin De Bruyne – 169 goals, 283 assists
- Kaka – 236 goals, 162 assists
- David Silva – 160 goals, 209 assists
- Mesut Ozil – 121 goals, 240 assists
- Wesley Sneijder – 184 goals, 165 assists
- Christian Eriksen – 153 goals, 190 assists
- Henrikh Mkhitaryan – 191 goals, 150 assists
- James Rodriguez – 156 goals, 167 assists
- Bruno Fernandes – 171 goals, 142 assists
- Marek Hamsik – 169 goals, 133 assists