The top 10 most creative players across Europe’s top five leagues

Europe is home to some of the best creative outlets in world football right now and we’ve picked out the top 10 most creative players from last season based on shot-creating actions per 90.

A shot-creating action is defined as an offensive action directly leading to a shot such as a pass, dribble or drawing a foul. 

 

10. Lorenzo Pellegrini – 5.31 

Roma enjoyed an eventful 2021/22 campaign as they won the UEFA Europa Conference League and finished sixth in Serie A. 

Lorenzo Pellegrini was a vital cog in Jose Mourinho’s system as he produced 5.31 shot-creating actions per 90.  

He finished the league campaign with 14 goal contributions in total and he made more key passes than any other Roma player with 68. 

 

9. Hakan Çalhanoglu - 5.48 

Inter’s Hakan Çalhanoglu ranked second in the Serie A for assists with 12 in total. 

The Turkish playmaker made more key passes than any other player in Serie A with 88 and he averaged 5.48 shot-creating actions per 90. 

 

8. Iker Muniain – 5.56 

Despite Athletic Bilbao only averaging 1.31 goals per game last season, Iker Muniain was still one of the most creative outlets in the league. 

He finished the season with 10 assists and he averaged 5.56 shot-creating actions per 90. 

 

7. Jonas Hofmann – 5.59 

Coming in as the Bundesliga’s sole representative on today’s list we have Borussia Monchengladbach midfielder Jonas Hofmann. 

The versatile 30-year-old was involved in 17 goals in total as he averaged 5.59 shot-creating actions per 90.  

 

6. Kevin De Bruyne – 5.68 

Kevin De Bruyne was the most creative outlet in the Premier League with an average of 5.68 shot-creating actions per 90. 

The Belgian playmaker completed 87 key passes in total, more than any other Manchester City player last season.  

With the introduction of Erling Haaland into the Manchester City side next season, De Bruyne’s creative numbers are only expected to increase.  

 

5. Vinicius Junior - 5.69 

This has been Vinicius Junior’s breakthrough season at Real Madrid and he currently ranks among the best dribblers in Europe. 

The Brazilian winger averaged 5.69 shot-creating actions per 90, which makes him the most creative player in La Liga currently. 

 

4. Luis Muriel – 5.85 

Atalanta forward Luis Muriel is the only outright striker on today’s list as he finished the season with nine goals and eight assists. 

The Colombian forward averaged 5.85 shot-creating actions per 90 which was the most in the Serie A last season. 

 

3. Neymar – 5.98 

Neymar might have missed a large chunk of the season through injury, but when he is fully fit he still has plenty to offer these days. 

The Brazilian winger averaged 5.98 shot-creating actions per 90 and averaged a goal contribution in Ligue 1 every 98 minutes.  

The 30-year-old completed 58 successful dribbles in just 22 appearances, which still ranks him as one of the best dribblers in the league.  

 

2. Lionel Messi – 6.02 

While Lionel Messi may have only scored six league goals during his debut season with PSG, his creative numbers still rank him alongside the best playmakers in Europe. 

Messi finished the season with 14 league assists and he averaged a goal involvement every 107 minutes in total. 

He created 6.02 shot-creating actions per 90 in 2021/22, which ranks him as the second best creator from this season. 

 

1. Dimitri Payet – 6.53 

Claiming the number one spot as the most creative player in Europe’s top five leagues we have Dimitri Payet.  

The 35-year-old is still going strong in Ligue 1 as he scored 12 goals and registered 10 assists last season.  

He created 6.53 shot-creating actions per 90 and made 99 key passes in total.