World Cup 2026 Creator Stats: Most Assists, Chances Created, Big Chances Created, xA, Passes into the Final Third

The usual suspects are leading the way in the race for the Golden Boot. Lionel Messi bagged his eighth goal of the World Cup 2026 in Argentina’s entertaining 3-2 win over Egypt on Tuesday.

Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe are hot on the Argentine’s heels, having scored seven goals each. Harry Kane, meanwhile, sits on six goals ahead of the quarter-finals.

In terms of creativity, there are familiar faces atop the relevant metrics. And we run through the creator leaders at the World Cup 2026 so far.

World Cup 2026 Top Assists: Michael Olise a class above with quarters opponent Brahim Diaz chasing his tail

Unsurprisingly, Michael Olise ranks top for assists at the World Cup 2026. The France international has five to his name, including a brace of assists in comfortable wins over Iraq and Sweden.

Olise saw out the 2025/26 Bundesliga season with 19 assists, so it’s hardly a shock he leads the way for this metric.

However, Morocco’s Brahim Diaz is on Olise’s coattails. The Real Madrid man has registered four assists, a haul he’ll hope to add to when the Atlas Lions face France in their quarter-final clash on Thursday.

Bruno Guimaraes also has four to his name, while Andreas Schjelderup, Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka all have three, returns they’ll be keen to build upon when Norway face England.

World Cup 2026 Most Assists Provided

World Cup 2026 Top Chances Created: Leandro Trossard leads Mohamed Salah and Lionel Messi

Leandro Trossard may have registered just two assists at the World Cup 2026, but with a little more composure from his teammates; that haul would be higher.

Indeed, the Belgian has created more chances (17) than any other player at the competition so far. Trossard sits above Egypt’s Mohamed Salah (16), Argentina skipper Lionel Messi and Morocco right-back Achraf Hakimi (both 15).

While Salah can no longer add to his return, both Messi and Hakimi can add to their hauls when they face Switzerland and France, respectively, in the quarter-finals of the World Cup 2026.

World Cup 2026 Most Chances Created

World Cup 2026 Top Big Chances Created: Lionel Messi pulling apart defences

Lionel Messi may not sit top for chances created, but in terms of big chances created, the Argentina hitman leads the way.

Messi ranks first for big chances created (6) at the World Cup 2026. Saying that, France star Michael Olise (5) has the chance to leapfrog Messi in this particular metric when Les Bleus face Morocco on Thursday.

Joshua Kimmich, Nuno Mendes, Roberto Alvarado and Yan Diomande have all managed four each, however won’t have the chance to add to their respective hauls following their knockout stage exits.

World Cup 2026 Most Big Chances Created

World Cup 2026 Top xA (Expected Assists) Provided: Liverpool target Yan Diomande living up to expectations

Ivory Coast may have crashed out of the World Cup at the round-of-32 stage having fallen to Norway, but the Elephants gave their all prior to the knockout stage exit.

And the competition was one where Yan Diomande excelled despite Ivory Coast’s early exit.

Diomande, who has been linked with Liverpool, may have registered just one assist, though he should have had more to his name. The 19-year-old ranked top for Expected Assists (2.86). His teammates’ profligacy meant that return was not higher.

Leandro Trossard (2.49) and Lionel Messi (2.09) of Belgium and Argentina, respectively, round off the top three. Diomande’s performances, meanwhile, suggests he is worth the hype.

World Cup 2026 Most xA (Expected Assists) Achieved

World Cup 2026 Top Final Third Passes: Spanish pair Pedri and Rodri carving backlines apart with ease

Spain lead the way for possession (65.7%) at the World Cup 2026, so it’s no surprise that their key midfielders are breaking down backlines with relative ease.

Pedri (138) and Rodri (137) lead the way for final third passes completed as Spain look to maximise their dominance in North America and go the distance at the World Cup for just the second time in their history.

Michael Olise rounds off the podium, though the France star is way off Rodri, having completed 117 final third passes.

Canada midfielder Stephen Eustaquio (114) and Germany’s Florian Wirtz (107) complete the top five.

World Cup 2026 Most Final Third Passes Completed