Playmakers are probably the most entertaining players in football. They are also more decisive in games with their delicate passing, setting up the ball on a platter for the goal scorers.
Dimitri Payet of Marseille (Photo by John Berry/Getty Images)
Even on their bad days, they can dictate the complex of a whole game with just one of their moment of class. In appreciation of their genius, we take a look at the top five Creator in Chief in top five leagues since the start of the 2017-18 season.
5. Alejandro ‘Papu’ Gomez – 348 chances created
The Argentine is not one of the most popular names in the game but gained recognition for being a significant part of the Atalanta side that reached the quarter finals of the 2019-20 Champions League.
In his later seasons with the Bergamo club, the 33year old won the best playmaker in the Serie A in consecutive seasons. He also picked up the award for the best Midfielder in his last full season.
Pulling the strings in the middle of the park, he was also rewarded with an appearance in the Champions League and Serie A teams of the season in 2019-20 season.
The Sevilla man can play almost anywhere upfront. Behind the striker or as a second striker, on the left flank and as a false nine. Technically gifted, such a miss for top teams that his brilliance only came to limelight in the later stages of his career.
Alejandro Papu Gomez playing for Atalanta in 2020 (Photo by Alberto Gandolfo/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Well known for his awareness, technical qualities, ball control and dribbling skills, as well as his passing, crossing and vision, which allow him to create chances and provide assists for teammates.
He has created 348 goalscoring opportunities since the start of the 2017-18 season playing in Italy and Spain and has seen 40 of them turned into assists. 39 of those were for Atalanta while only one has been for his current employer in Spain.
Gomez has started just three LaLiga games this season in his six appearances. Surely Sevilla have a genius in their ranks if manager Julen Lopetegui can get the best of him.
4. Lionel Messi – 350 chances created
Regarded as the greatest of all time, Lionel Messi is a player who can do almost everything attacking wise. Creating, assisting and scoring, he does it with ease and in style.
The 34year old Argentine was the burning fire in a Barcelona side that dominated for over 10 years, and he continues to do that even as he approaches the end of his career.
350 chances created since that time (start of the 2017-18 season) with his former club and PSG – Paris Saint-Germain, Lionel Messi has won countless individual awards for playmaking and scoring, he is a genius, an artist that never runs out of special touches.
Over that period he has seen 55 of the 350 chances been converted into a goal and subsequent assists registered for him. Messi is a name that will not be forgotten in the world of football.
Lionel Messi in action for PSG in a Champions league game vs. RB Leipzig (Photo by Xavier Laine/Getty Images)
The six times Balon d’Or winner is also in contention for a seventh and that will prove some feat for anyone to equal. And whenever the debate for the greatest of all time ensued, the name Lionel Messi will never be wanting.
3. Luis Alberto – 364 chances created
It will forever be a puzzle why a player like Luis Alberto is never given the chance to fully be a part of the Spanish National Team. Though the former Liverpool man took time before finally getting his career on track, he could have offer more for them with his magic.
The 29year old is a special form of playmaker, more like Papu Gomez although lacking in physicality but make up for that with his other numerous abilities.
Since arriving in Lazio in 2016, only few playmaker in Europe offers more than the former Sevilla man. His arrival in Rome has seen Lazio move up the ranks in Italy. He also helped them finish in a Champions league place in the 2019-20 season.
Luis Alberto celebrates scoring for Lazio (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)
Made an appearance in the Serie A team of the season in 2019-20 and of his 364 created chances over the period of our concentration, he has been opportune to have registered 42 assists and four of those have come this season after just eight games.
More still to come from a player who has lots of potentials. Ciro Immobile will be a happy man having the Spaniard alongside him in games.
2. Kevin De Bruyne – 366 chances created
Regarded as the best Midfielder of his time, the Belgian will rue Manchester City’s loss in the final of the Champions League to Chelsea as the sole reason his missed out on the chance to win the Balon d’Or, UEFA Best Men’s Player and the UEFA Best Midfielder.
Though he came third in the UEFA Best Men’s Player award, he will know that more would have come had City won the game in Porto.
Kevin De Bruyne of Manchester City celebrates scoring against his former club, Chelsea. (Photo by Victoria Haydn/Manchester City FC via Getty Images)
Talent beyond questioning, De Bruyne has made his mark in the Bundesliga before returning to the Premier League with Manchester City after a first failed spell with Chelsea.
He return to England and continues to wow spectators almost all the time he gets on the ball. Not one of the best dribbler, but what he does with the ball, he is second to none.
His versatility can see him been deployed in almost all the positions in the final third, while he can also play centrally in Midfield and box to box. Quick passing, crossing, shooting, good vision and doing all these and more with both feet.
68 assists out of the 366 created chances, the Belgian is regarded as the most complete Midfielder and rightly so for his ability, awareness and technicality.
1. Dimitri Payet – 383 chances created
But for injures, 34year old Dimitri Payet could have been up there, with the very best playmakers and might even be playing for a top team. However, despite it all, he still managed put up good show whenever he gets a hold on the round leather.
Another player who could play anywhere in the final third, the Marseille man has registered 36 assists from the 383 created chances, which is considerably low but considering the team he plays for, it is understandable.
The Frenchman spent time with West Ham United in the Premier league and was outstanding during the spell, catching the eye with his dribbles, runs, passings and technicality on set piece. Though injuries limited him to just 18 league games, he was joy to watch in those games.
Payet also missed out on making the French squad to the FIFA World Cup in 2018 after sustaining an injury in the loss to Atletico Madrid in the Europa League final, more to his anguish, France went all the way to winning the tournament.
It has been a career of ups and downs for the former Lille man but even if not really popular in the game, fans of every team he has played and plays for will never forget they have been graced by a genius named Dimitri Payet.
Afolabi Kehinde Hassan
Stats Credits: Squawka
