Which player position gets the most assists in football?

Find out which football positions usually rack up the most assists. Learn why wingers and attacking midfielders create more chances than other roles.

Assists are one of the clearest ways to measure attacking output in football. But when you look closely at football assists, patterns start to emerge. Certain player positions are far more likely to provide the final pass, while others influence attacks without showing up  in the numbers.

Understanding which positions generate the most assists in football helps explain why some players dominate assist charts year after year. It also shows how tactics, roles, and team structure shape where chances come from, long before the ball hits the net.

This breakdown looks at which football positions produce the most assists, how different roles contribute in different ways, and why systems and style matter just as much as individual ability.

Why attacking roles dominate assist numbers

Across leagues and seasons, attacking midfielders consistently lead assist charts. That’s not a coincidence. These roles are positioned closest to goal while still being tasked with chance creation rather than finishing.

Attacking midfielders, often described as No.10s or advanced central midfielders, operate in the spaces where it’s tricky to maintain a solid defensive structure. They receive the ball between lines, face goal more often, and are usually involved in the final action before a shot. Because of that, they’re naturally well placed to deliver high-value football assists.

Wingers share a similar advantage. Whether hugging the touchline or cutting inside, wide players are encouraged to take risks. Crosses, cutbacks, and through balls all feed directly into assist totals. Even in matches where nothing quite comes off, volume alone pushes the numbers up over time.

This is why most assist leaders play either centrally behind the striker or out wide. The roles demand it.

How fullbacks and deeper midfielders contribute differently

Not all assists come from traditional creators. Modern football has expanded the range of positions that regularly contribute to assist totals, particularly fullbacks.

In many systems, fullbacks now provide width while wingers move inside. That puts defenders into attacking positions far higher up the pitch. Overlapping runs, low crosses, and cutbacks have turned fullbacks into reliable sources of assists, especially in possession-heavy teams.

Deeper midfielders, on the other hand, tend to sit further from the final action. Their role is usually to progress play, switch the point of attack, or control tempo. As a result, they often record fewer direct assists even when they’re central to how a team creates chances.

That doesn’t mean they’re less creative. It just means their influence shows up earlier in the move. In some systems, particularly those with heavy set-piece reliance, deeper midfielders can still post strong assist numbers, but it’s less common.

The role of tactics and team structure

Position alone doesn’t tell the full story. Tactical setup has a major influence on where assists come from.

Teams that dominate possession naturally spread assists across more players, as sustained pressure creates multiple chances from different areas. Systems with overlapping fullbacks, inverted wingers, or fluid front lines increase the number of positions contributing to high assist numbers too.

Direct or counter-attacking sides often concentrate assists among fewer players. With less attacking phases overall, the responsibility for assist creation falls to those involved in transitions, usually wide attackers or a single advanced midfielder.

Set-piece duties also matter. Players who consistently take corners and free kicks inflate their assist totals regardless of position. That’s why assist charts sometimes include names you wouldn’t expect based purely on open-play roles.

So which position gets the most assists?

Attacking midfielders and wide players remain the most reliable sources of assists in football. Their positioning, responsibilities, and involvement in the final phase of attacks give them a clear statistical advantage.

But modern football has blurred traditional lines. Fullbacks contribute more than ever, deeper midfielders shape attacks without always being credited. And overall, alternate styles of play results in assist totals that are distributed differently depending on approach.

Track where assists are coming from with Match Bingo

Assists are the final touch, but they’re built through carefully curated moves that develop across the pitch. Where players receive the ball, how teams structure attacks, and which positions are most involved all shape the outcome.

Match Bingo lets you follow those moments live. You can see how attacks develop, which areas are being used most, and how different roles contribute to chance creation as the match unfolds.

Premier League fixtures and many more are live in the app. Download now!