Assist (association football) explained

In association football, an assist is a contribution by a player which helps to score a goal. Statistics for assists made by players may be kept officially by the organisers of a competition, or unofficially by, for example, journalists or organisers of fantasy football competitions. Recording assists is not part of the official Laws of the Game and the criteria for an assist to be awarded may vary. Record of assists was virtually not kept at all until the end of the 20th century, although reports of matches commonly described a player as having "made" one or more goals. Since the 1990s, some leagues have kept official record of assists and based awards on them.

Criteria

Most commonly, an assist is credited to a player for passing or crossing the ball to the scorer. It may also be awarded to a player whose shot rebounds (off a defender, goalkeeper or goalpost) to a teammate who scores. Some systems may credit an assist to a player who wins a penalty kick or a free kick for another player to convert, or to an attacking player for contributing to an own goal.[1] A goal may be unassisted, or have one assist; some systems allow for two assists.

Opta criteria

Opta, a British sports analytics company and the official provider of Premier League statistics,[2] [3] defines an assist as "The final touch from a teammate, which leads to the recipient of the ball scoring a goal". Opta requires that if the assist is deflected by an opposition player, it must be deemed as travelling to the goalscorer irrespective of the deflection. Also according to Opta, "in the event of an own goal, direct free kick goal and direct corner goal, an assist will not be awarded. This same rule applies to penalties unless the penalty taker chooses to pass the ball for another player to score."[4]

According to Opta, an assist is not awarded in the following cases:

This strict definition makes assist statistics more accurate and fair in analyzing players' sports performance according to Opta.

FIFA World Cup

FIFA's Technical Study Group is responsible for awarding assist points at the FIFA World Cup.[5] In the Technical Study Group's report on the 1986 World Cup, the authors calculated for the first time unofficial statistics for assists, developing the following criteria:[6]

  1. An assist was awarded to the player who had given the last pass to the goalscorer.
  2. In addition, the last but two holder of the ball could get an assist provided that his action had decisive importance for the goal.
  3. After goals from rebounds those players were awarded an assist who had shot on target.
  4. After goals scored on penalty or by a directly converted free-kick the fouled player received a point.
  5. In case that the goalscorer had laid on the goal for himself (dribble, solo run), no assists were awarded.
  6. No assists were awarded, either, if the goalscorer took advantage of a missed pass by an opponent.

The 1990 World Cup technical report adopted similar criteria, but changed the free-kick/penalty criterion:[7]

Planet World Cup has calculated some retrospective data on assists back to the 1966 World Cup,[8] though the 1986 data differs from that of FIFA.[6] [9]

FIFA started officially keeping track of assists in World Cup tournaments at the 1994 edition.[10] This was popularly ascribed to the popularity of detailed sports statistics among fans.[10] 1994 was also the first World Cup in which assists were used as a tie-breaker in determining the Golden Shoe award for top scorer.[10] [11] In the event, both Hristo Stoichkov and Oleg Salenko tied with 19 points, from 6 goals and 1 assist.[11]

France

The French league, Ligue 1, awards the Trophée de Meilleur Passeur ("best passer trophy") to the player with most "decisive passes" in a season, starting in the 2007–08 season.[12] Sports newspaper L'Équipe had unofficially tracked assists for some years prior to then.[13] The league's Commission des Compétitions includes blocked shots as a subset of "decisive passes".[14] In 2012–13, Mathieu Valbuena and Dimitri Payet finished with 12 assists, Valbuena winning the trophy by having fewer blocked shots (3 against 5) among his total.[15]

Spain

For the 1998–99 La Liga season, SDI sold its Gecasport database to Spanish media, in which Spanish; Castilian: asistencias de gol were described as "passes which lead immediately to a shot and goal".[16]

Ukraine

In Ukraine a traceable documentation of assists calculation started out by Ukrainian newspaper "Komanda" during the 2004–05 season of the Ukrainian Higher League (Vyshcha Liha). The calculation of assist has certain problems to establish what is the "last pass" which led to a scored goal. Different institutions have own perception of it. Some specialists consider that an assist has to be a deliberate action meaning that it does not include the situation when a ball randomly rebounded to a scoring striker.

United Kingdom

In the United Kingdom, official game statistics, including assists, for the Premier League, the Scottish Premiership, and the English Football League are provided by PA Sport under the Actim brand.[17] Since the 2006–07 season, assists have been factored into the Actim Index of Premier League player performance.[18] The assist statistics provided by fantasy football competitions may differ from the Actim data; some uniformly credit an assist to whichever teammate last touched the ball before the scorer, regardless of other circumstances of the play.[19] The Premier League Playmaker of the Season award was introduced in the 2017–18 Premier League for the player with most assists.[20]

United States

The original North American Soccer League kept assist statistics from its foundation in 1968, as its forebears the United Soccer Association and National Professional Soccer League had done the previous year.[21] Analogous statistics were already being kept in basketball and in ice hockey, both established North American sports.

Major League Soccer formerly awarded the MLS Golden Boot based on 2 points per goal scored and one per assist.

The NCAA makes regulations for statistics, including assists, in college soccer in the U.S.[22] Two players may be credited with assists if the second did not have to beat a defender before passing to the scorer.[23] No assist is awarded for winning a penalty.[24] If a goal is scored after a save, block, or rebound from the goal frame, the first shooter gets an assist.[25]

Statistics

These totals are the official records recognised by the relevant governing body. Independent statistics providers may have different data, either through crediting different players for a given goal, or through having begun recording assists earlier or later than the official statistics provider.

Players with most assists in a given competition (all-time)
data-sort-type=textCompetition data-sort-type=numberRecords
began 		data-sort-type=textLeading player(s)data-sort-type=textTeam(s) data-sort-type=numberAssists Refs
FIFA World Cup1954PeléBrazil10[26]
UEFA European Championship1960Cristiano RonaldoPortugal7[27]
Copa América1916Lionel MessiArgentina18[28]
FIFA Club World Cup2000Neri CardozoBoca Juniors, Monterrey5
FIFA World Cup qualification (CONMEBOL)1994NeymarBrazil11
data-sort-value="Uefa" UEFA Champions Leaguedata-sort-value="2000" align=center1992data-sort-value="Giggs" Ryan GiggsManchester United41 [29]
data-sort-value="Premier" Premier Leaguedata-sort-value="1992" align=center1992data-sort-value="Giggs" Ryan GiggsManchester United162 [30]
data-sort-value="Laliga"data-sort-value=1990 align=center1990data-sort-value="Messi"Lionel MessiBarcelona192[31]
198688[32]
Bundesliga2004Thomas MüllerBayern Munich169[33]
Ligue 12001Dimitri PayetNantes, Saint-Étienne, Lille, Marseille115[34]
Ukrainian Premier League2004–05Darijo SrnaShakhtar Donetsk88[35]
UEFA Cup/UEFA Europa League2001Bořek DočkalSlovan Liberec, Rosenborg, Slavia Prague26[36]
data-sort-value="Mls"data-sort-value=1996 align=centerdata-sort-value="Donovan"136 [37]
UEFA Super Cup1973Real Madrid3[38]
Sevilla, Atlético Madrid
Players with most assists in a given competition (single season)[39]
CompetitionPlayer(s)Team(s)AssistsSeason(s)Refs
La LigaLionel MessiBarcelona212019–20[40] [41]
BundesligaThomas MüllerBayern Munich212019–20[42]
Premier LeagueThierry HenryArsenalalign=center rowspan="2" 202002–03[43]
Kevin De BruyneManchester City2019–20
Ligue 1Ángel Di MaríaParis Saint-Germain182015–16[44]
Serie ARonaldinhoAC Milan182009–10[45]
UEFA Champions LeagueBarcelona91999–2000[46]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Haverford College vs Alvernia College . 18 September 2007 . . 21 July 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20070713150309/http://www.haverford.edu/athletics/soccerm/07Stats/070918hm.htm . 13 July 2007.
  2. Web site: Who are Opta Index? . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20001213173200/http://www.optasoccer.com/optamizer/ABOUT/index.asp . 13 December 2000 . Opta Index Limited . 8 December 2017 .
  3. Web site: 21 December 1999 . Sports Internet Group plc Results for the period to 31 August 1999 . Sports Internet Group plc . Investegate . 8 December 2017.
  4. Web site: Opta event definitions . Opta . 23 June 2024 .
  5. Web site: adidas Golden Shoe Award . FIFA . 29 July 2008 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080626175841/http://www.fifa.com/mm/document/fifafacts/mcwc/ip-301_03a_fwc-awards_new_2466.pdf . 26 June 2008 . dead .
  6. Web site: 1986 World Cup Technical Report, part 4 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121013164049/http://www.fifa.com/mm/document/afdeveloping/techdevp/fwc%5fmexico%5f1986%5fen%5fpart4%5f279.pdf . dead . 13 October 2012 . FIFA Technical Study Group . 1986 . . The Table of Goalscorers: Goals and Assists, page 198 . y . 29 July 2008.
  7. Web site: 1990 World Cup Technical Report, part 6 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121111050409/http://www.fifa.com/mm/document/afdeveloping/techdevp/fwc_italy_1990_a_part6_273.pdf . dead . 11 November 2012 . FIFA Technical Study Group . 1990 . FIFA. 281 . 29 July 2008.
  8. Web site: World Cup 1966 statistics . Planet World Cup . 29 July 2008.
  9. Web site: World Cup 1986 statistics . Planet World Cup . 29 July 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20080720164229/http://www.planetworldcup.com/CUPS/1986/wc86statistics.html. 20 July 2008 . live.
  10. News: Agence France Presse. 11 July 1994 . Football by the numbers . Rebecca . Bryan . Los Angeles . the assist has gained enough ground to earn a place in the calculations for the Golden Boot award, which in every previous World Cup has been awarded solely on the basis of goals scored. Under the formula, players get three points for a goal, and one point for an assist. "We made a two-point difference because we do not want someone who did not score winning the award," a FIFA official said..
  11. News: Romario is voted the top player of World Cup '94 and winner of the FIFA/adidas Golden Ball award; Salenko and Stoichkov tie as leading scorers for World Cup USA '94 . 17 July 1994 . . [FIFA] has announced Oleg Salenko (Russia) and Hristo Stoichkov (Bulgaria) as [...] winners of the prestigious adidas Golden Shoe award [...] who made six goals and one assist each. Kennet Andersson (Sweden) with 5 goals and 3 assists, will receive a Bronze replica of the Predator [...] Throughout World Cup '94, three points were awarded for each goal scored and one point for each assist leading to a goal, with a maximum of two assists per goal. Assists are only taken into account if two or more players scored the same number of goals..
  12. Web site: Thauvin n'oublie pas de passer . LFP.fr . 5 June 2020 . fr . 5 February 2020 . la création du classement officiel des passeurs en 2007/08 . 5 June 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200605194306/https://static.lfp.fr/ligue1/article/thauvin-n-oublie-pas-de-passer.htm . dead .
  13. Web site: Delbrayelle . Dominique . Garin . Erik . Di Maggio . Roberto . France – Topscorers . . 5 June 2020 . 20 June 2019.
  14. Web site: James Rodriguez en prince de la passe. 17 May 2014. Ligue de Football Professionnel. fr. 21 July 2014.
  15. Web site: C'est la bonne pour Mathieu Valbuena. 26 May 2013. Ligue de Football Professionnel. 21 July 2014.
  16. Web site: Criterios de Elaboración de Estadísticas . usurped . sdifutbol.com . 5 June 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/19991118060515/http://www.sdifutbol.com/liga9899/criterios.htm . 18 November 1999 . es . Spanish; Castilian: pases que implican, de manera inmediata, un tiro y gol .
    Lago-Peñas . Carlos . Lago-Ballesteros . Joaquín . Dellal . Alexandre . Gómez . Maite . Game-Related Statistics that Discriminated Winning, Drawing and Losing Teams from the Spanish Soccer League . Journal of Sports Science & Medicine . 1 June 2010 . 9 . 2 . 288–293 . 24149698 . 3761743 . 1303-2968 . Gecasport, a private company dedicated to the performance assessment of teams in the Spanish Soccer League (www.sdifutbol.com). . ; Goleada estadística . Indice . 1697-2325 . 5 . 18–19 . Donald . Peña . July 2004 . 5 June 2020 . es . https://web.archive.org/web/20040927204009/http://www.revistaindice.com/numero5/p18.pdf . 27 September 2004 . live .
  17. Web site: Actim Stats Frequently Asked Questions. PA Sport. 29 July 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20080802142401/http://www.pa-sport.com/en/actim/actim-stats-faqs.html. 2 August 2008. dead.
  18. Web site: Actim Index Explained. PA Sport. 29 July 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20080802143312/http://www.pa-sport.com/en/actim/actim-index-explained.html. 2 August 2008. dead.
  19. Web site: Mesut Ozil... When is an assist not an assist?. Coombs. Dan. 22 September 2013. HITC Sport. hereisthecity. 21 July 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140727161623/http://hereisthecity.com/en-gb/2013/09/22/mesut-ozil-when-is-an-assist-not-an-assist/. 27 July 2014. dead.
  20. New Premier League player award announced. 18 April 2018. Premier League. 18 April 2018.
  21. Web site: NASL Top Scorer Award. midfielddynamo. 29 July 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20080724222222/http://www.midfielddynamo.com/players/awards/usa_nasl_ts.htm. 24 July 2008. dead.
  22. Book: http://web1.ncaa.org/web_files/stats/Stats_Manuals/Soccer/2009ez.pdf#page=2. Section 5: Assists. 2009. Official Soccer Statistics Rules; Approved Rulings and Interpretations. NCAA. 2. 25 June 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20100331153332/http://web1.ncaa.org/web_files/stats/Stats_Manuals/Soccer/2009ez.pdf. 31 March 2010. live.
  23. NCAA Official Soccer Statistics Rules, §5.Art 1.(1)
  24. NCAA Official Soccer Statistics Rules, §5.Art 1.(3)
  25. NCAA Official Soccer Statistics Rules, §5.Art 1.(8),(9)
  26. Web site: 'Youngest player to win the World Cup' - What are the records that Pele holds in world football?. Goal.com. 24 April 2022. 13 January 2023.
  27. Web site: Cristiano Ronaldo (7) supera a Karel Poborsky (6) y ya es, EN SOLITARIO, el jugador con más asistencias en TODA la historia de la Eurocopa. . MisterChip . 22 June 2024 . es.
  28. Web site: All Types of Assists, including non-Opta Assists. 24 October 2023. MessivsRonaldo.app.
  29. Web site: Players - Most assists . UEFA.com . 6 August 2020 . 4 June 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200604102055/https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/history/rankings/players/assists/ . live .
  30. Web site: Assists . Premier League Player Stats . Premier League . 5 June 2020.
    Web site: Ryan Giggs . Premier League Players . Premier League . 5 June 2020.
  31. Web site: Messi vs Ronaldo World Records, Goal Records and More. 27 December 2020. MessivsRonaldo.app.
  32. Web site: Player with most assists in Serie A history . 28 August 2023 . BeSoccer.
  33. Web site: 300 - Thomas Müller's assist was his 300th goal involvement in the Bundesliga . Twitter . 4 March 2023 . 4 March 2023.
  34. Web site: Ligue 1 2024 top assists table . 28 August 2023 . BeSoccer.
  35. Web site: Чи обжене Ярмоленко Тайсона? . 21 December 2023 . upl.ua (archived). https://web.archive.org/web/20231221160328/https://upl.ua/ua/news/view/8242 . 21 December 2023 .
  36. Web site: Players – Most assists . UEFA . 6 August 2020.
  37. Web site: All-Time: Assists . Statistics. Major League Soccer. 5 June 2020.
  38. Web site: Most UEFA Super Cup assists . 18 August 2023. BeSoccer.
  39. Web site: Players With the Most Assists in a Single Season in Europe's Top-Five Leagues. 24 November 2020. 19 January 2021. 90min.
  40. Web site: 19 July 2020. Messi breaks LaLiga Santander record for most assists in a season. 20 July 2020. Marca.
  41. Web site: 20 July 2020. Stats: Messi breaks two all-time records; Ramos' unique first this century. 20 July 2020. ESPN.
  42. News: Thomas Muller Breaks Kevin De Bruyne's Bundesliga Assist Record. 18 August 2020. beIN Sports.
  43. News: 26 July 2020. Kevin de Bruyne: Twentieth assist of season equals Thierry Henry's record. BBC Sport. 28 July 2020.
  44. News: Angel Di Maria sets new Ligue 1 record with 18 assists. 14 May 2016. 3 August 2020. Goal.
  45. Web site: I 10 calciatori che hanno realizzato più assist in una stagione di Serie A. 11 July 2020. 3 August 2020. Calciatori Brutti. 29 September 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200929045552/https://calciatoribrutti.com/it/i-10-calciatori-che-hanno-realizzato-piu-assist-una-stagione-di-serie. dead.
  46. Web site: Most Assists in a Single Champions League Campaign . 12 October 2023 . Opta .

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