USMNT star leads Kylian Mbappe for most assists across Europe’s top 5 leagues in 2024

Kevin De Bruyne has started 2024 with a vengeance and his assist tally is proof of that, but there are several exciting names in the calendar year assist charts thus far.

After recovering from a lengthy injury layoff, the magic between De Bruyne’s ears connected to his two feet simply couldn’t be tamed any longer and what followed was a barrage of goal contributions, just as Manchester City kicked into gear.

A resurgent American and others feature on a stacked list of names, however, with De Bruyne being chased down by a very hungry pack of ballers.

=4. Jonathan David – 5

A man who has been linked with a move away from Lille for what feels like every summer since the beginning of time, David has enjoyed a strong start to 2024.

It doesn’t matter how you get them – obviously – but the bulk of the Canadian’s creative work came in one game; he bagged four assists and three goals in a 12-0 thrashing of Golden Lions FC in the Coupe de France back in January.

David has only managed one assist on top of that since then, but is flying when it comes to goals in Ligue 1 right now.

=4. Darwin Nunez – 5

The first of three players stuck on five assists for 2024, Nunez has had a brilliant turn of the year for Liverpool and has been directly involved in 13 goals so far in 2024 across all competitions.

What’s frightening is that the Uruguayan still plays like he’s got room to grow into, with him still snatching at some chances. He’s now finding the back of the net more regularly, however, and is proving to be an extremely reliable creator of goals, too.

He’s quietly fulfilling his potential as one of the most dangerous strikers in football.

=4. Kylian Mbappe – 5

With a move to Real Madrid pending, Luis Enrique is gradually trying to prepare Paris Saint-Germain for life after Mbappe by slowly reducing his minutes where possible.

That hasn’t slowed the Frenchman down, though, to absolutely no surprise. Even when being given the second half of games to sit in the stands with family, he’s making lists like this.

With a handful of assists in the Coupe de France and a few more in Ligue 1, he’s strolling through his final season in the capital. Don’t be surprised to see him move up this list. 

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=2. Theo Hernandez – 7

The only defender to make the list, Hernandez is in a league of his own.

All the eyes are on Jeremie Frimpong and Alex Grimaldo for their creative exploits at Bayer Leverkusen, but Hernandez has been wearing that chain for years with Milan.

Seriously, it’s amazing watching him in possession and seeing the positions he finds himself in despite being a left-back.

In a tough season for the Rossoneri that sees manager Stefano Pioli under immense pressure, the 26-year-old has started 2024 with a bang, notching seven assists even while having to deputise at centre-back from time to time.

=2. Weston McKennie – 7

After a disastrous loan spell at Leeds United off the back of an already up and down time in Turin, nobody expected this kind of comeback from Weston McKennie in 2023-24.

A completely transformed man, the USMNT midfielder returned to Italy with it all to prove, has forced his way back into the fold at Juventus and has been one of Massimiliano Allegri’s most reliable picks this season.

With nine assists in all competitions, seven of those have come in 2024. Juve have fallen away from Inter in the title race, but that doesn’t reflect on McKennie, who is in outstanding form.

1. Kevin De Bruyne – 11

Just when you think you’re on top of the world, De Bruyne comes along and smashes it out of the park like an alien with freakish numbers.

The Belgian being sidelined with injury for so long almost made us forget just how imperious he is in full stride. It’s infuriating how easy he makes it all look.

11 assists and counting so far in 2024, McKennie and the like are doing extremely well to even be within reach of De Bruyne, whose eyes and brain are from another world.

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