Europe's Attacking Stars...Who Had Fewer Assists Than Trent Alexander-Arnold This Season

Trent Alexander-Arnold. Defender, playmaker, really, really good footballer. Like, historically good. How good?

Alexander-Arnold's 13 assists this season broke his own record for assists for a defender in the Premier League, putting him second behind only behind Kevin De Bruyne across all positions. The Englishman also snagged an assist in both the Champions League and the Club World Cup, because why not?

He's held aloft the Champions League, Premier League, Club World Cup and UEFA Super Cup trophies in the past 14 months...and he's 21.

It's time to stop measuring his attacking contributions against other defenders – it just doesn't work. Let's have a look at him against some forwards instead.

1. Cristiano Ronaldo - Seven Assists (All Comps)

Cristiano Ronaldo's goalscoring record has always trumped his number of assists / Emilio Andreoli/Getty Images

Cristiano Ronaldo is still among the best pure forwards in the world, but his goalscoring's often come at the expense of him setting up his teammates.

Ronaldo has netted a whopping 35 goals in all competitions, but has only made seven assists for teammates – and has only twice (2006/07 and 2014/15) passed Alexander-Arnold's mark of 13 in a league season.

It is actively surprising? Maybe not. But hell, it's Cristiano Ronaldo.

2. Kai Havertz - Nine Assists (All Comps)

Havertz is tipped to leave Bayer Leverkusen this summer / Jörg Schüler/Getty Images

Currently one of the most in demand players in Europe, Havertz could have played his last Bundesliga game. The 21-year-old German made six assists in the league this season, also registering two in the UEFA Europa League and one in the DfB-Pokal.

Havertz is reportedly the subject of strong interest from Chelsea, with the London side keen to bring the young German to the Premier League.

Despite his excellent season as an attacking midfielder, Alexander-Arnold still outstripped him by some distance.

3. David Silva - Ten Assists (Premier League)

Silva will leave Manchester City at the end of their UEFA Champions League run / Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

He's announced that he'll leave Manchester City when European run comes to an end this season, but David Silva has been at the heart of City's decade of success.

Since his move from Valencia in 2010, Silva has become the number one creator at the Etihad, renowned for his playmaker abilities. Although the Spaniard's time in Manchester is drawing to a close, he still managed to secure ten assists this season, all coming in the Premier League.

Not only has Alexander-Arnold made more assists than Silva this season, but the Liverpool right-back's numbers up there with some of the best Silva has managed during his time in England - El Mago only bettering the Englishman's 2019/20 assist tally in two of his ten seasons.

4. Heung-Min Son - 11 Assists (All Comps)

The South Korean star made 10+ Premier League goals and assists in 2019/20 / David Ramos/Getty Images

Tottenham's Heung-Min Son made ten Premier League assists in the 2019/20 season, a career-best for the South Korean even though he missed games in the Premier League following two red cards and an arm injury.

Son, however, only managed to record one additional assist in Spurs' cup competitions, and that came in the UEFA Champions League.

Alexander-Arnold has played eight more Premier League games than Son this season and has managed three more assists in the competition, and five more across all competitions.

5. Sadio Mane - 12 Assists (All Comps)

The Senegalese winger has been key to Liverpool's recent success / Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images

The Premier League champions have had many shining stars in their team this season, but Sadio Mane has been at the forefront – netting 20 goals this season, off the back of his 22 the season prior.

However, Mane only registered two assists in 2018/19, both coming in the Premier League. The winger has improved on those figures this season, making nine goals for his teammates in the Premier League, two in the UEFA Champions League, and one in the FIFA Club World Cup.

As impressive as the improvement to his game has been this season, Mane has still been topped by Alexander-Arnold, who has registered three more assists in all competitions.

6. Mohamed Salah - 13 Assists (All Comps)

'The Egyptian King' has been revolutionised by Klopp / Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

Alongside Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino, Liverpool's front three are often perceived to be the creators of the team, making chances for each other to score.

Salah has made the most assists in all competitions of that infamous front three, ten coming in the Premier League, two in the UEFA Champions League and one in the FIFA Club World Cup. Still lagging behind Trent though.

7. Serge Gnabry - 13 Assists (All Comps)

The former Arsenal player was a star against Tottenham earlier this season / Julian Finney/Getty Images

The German has tormented Bayern Munich's English opponents in the Champions League this season, scoring four at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and twice at Stamford Bridge.

Gnabry has made eleven assists in the Bundesliga this season, whilst also registering one assist each in the UEFA Champions League and the DfB-Pokal.

Even though the right winger has been electric this season for the German champions, playing alongside one of Europe's hottest strikers in Lewandowski, Alexander-Arnold has still made two more goals for his own teammates.