Arjun Menon
Kevin De Bruyne has entered the top five of the Champions League’s all-time assists rankings, sparking debate over whether the Belgian playmaker can one day surpass Cristiano Ronaldo’s record of 42. The 33-year-old, now at Napoli, remains one of the competition’s most dangerous creators.
De Bruyne’s Current Standing
With 31 assists to his name, De Bruyne has just pulled level with Ryan Giggs and overtaken legends Xavi and Iniesta. Only Neymar (33), Lionel Messi (40), Ángel Di María (41), and Cristiano Ronaldo (42) sit ahead of him.
He has already shown his quality in a Napoli shirt, supplying two assists in a 2-1 win over Sporting. If he maintains that form, climbing the rankings further this season looks inevitable.
How Far Is He From the Record?
To overtake Ronaldo, De Bruyne needs 12 more assists. To put that into context:
- Neymar – 2 assists ahead (33)
- Messi – 9 assists ahead (40)
- Di María – 10 assists ahead (41)
- Ronaldo – 11 assists ahead (42)
Why It’s So Difficult
Only once in history has a player come close to double-digit assists in a single Champions League campaign. Luis Figo’s record of nine (1999/00) still stands, with the likes of Messi, Ronaldo, and Di María never managing more than six in a season.
De Bruyne’s best return came in City’s treble-winning season (2022/23) with six assists. Reaching 12 in a single campaign is, statistically, almost impossible.
The Bigger Picture
Where De Bruyne has an advantage is longevity. He signed a two-year deal at Napoli with an option for a third. That means:
- If he gets 6 assists this season + 6 next season → he breaks Ronaldo’s record by 2027.
- If he extends one more year, averaging just 4 assists per season → he still claims the record.
By then, De Bruyne would be 38. But given examples like Luka Modrić still competing at 40, it’s not unrealistic.
Verdict
De Bruyne won’t catch Ronaldo this year — the numbers required are too steep. But over the next two or three seasons, the Belgian has every chance of writing his name above Ronaldo, Messi, and Di María in the Champions League’s assist history.
Ronaldo’s crown looks safe for now, but with De Bruyne still pulling strings in Europe, the race for the record is far from over.