English footballer James Milner and former Portugal forward Luis Figo share the record for most assists in a single UEFA Champions League season, with nine assists.
Milner, who joined Liverpool in 2015, achieved the feat in the first leg of the 2017-18 Champions League semi-final against AS Roma, when Roberto Firmino headed his 69th-minute corner kick past now Reds goalkeeper Alisson Becker to make the score 5-0.
Most assists in a single #UCL campaign:
— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) February 23, 2022
🏴 17/18 - James Milner [9]
🇧🇷 16/17 - Neymar [8]
🏴 13/14 - Wayne Rooney [8]
🇵🇹 21/22 - Bruno Fernandes [7]*
Going for the record. 💪💪 pic.twitter.com/FvXg8Y3PAa
The Englishman matched Luis Figo’s tally of assists which the Portuguese great first achieved in the 1999-00 season. As per transfermarkt.co.uk, Figo racked up nine assists in 13 matches for FC Barcelona in the campaign and repeated it in the following season - nine assists in 14 games - while representing Real Madrid.
Neymar and Wayne Rooney sit joint-second on the list for most assists in a single UEFA Champions League campaign with eight assists.
Rooney, Manchester United’s all-time top scorer, notched eight assists in the 2013-14 Champions League campaign.
Neymar matched Wayne Rooney’s record in the 2016-17 season, when he provided eight assists for FC Barcelona. The Brazilian played a role in four goals in the Blaugrana’s 7-0 win over Celtic, and it remains one of his best performances in the competition.
Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes notched his seventh UCL assist in a single campaign in the ongoing 2021-22 campaign, when his 80th-minute pass enabled Anthony Elanga to equalise for the Red Devils in their 1-1 first leg draw against Atletico Madrid.
6 - Bruno Fernandes is the first player in Champions League history to assist in six consecutive appearances while playing for an English club, breaking the record held by David Beckham (for @ManUtd) since 1998. Creator. pic.twitter.com/y92qBMZas8
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) February 23, 2022
By doing so, Bruno also set a new record as the first player in Champions League history to assist in six consecutive games for an English club.
Furthermore, the Portuguese playmaker’s tally of seven assists puts him joint-third on the list for most assists in a single UEFA Champions League campaign alongside Roberto Firmino (2017-18), Ryan Giggs (2006-07), Zlatan Ibrahimović (2012-13) and Xavi Hernández (2008-09).
Most assists in a single UEFA Champions League campaign
| Player | Assists | Season |
| Luis Figo | 9 | 1999-00, 2000-01 |
| James Milner | 2017-18 | |
| Wayne Rooney | 8 | 2013-14 |
| Neymar | 2016-17 | |
| Ryan Giggs | 7 | 2006-07 |
| Xavi Hernández | 2008-09 | |
| Zlatan Ibrahimović | 2012-13 | |
| Roberto Firmino | 2017-18 | |
| Bruno Fernandes* | 2021-22 |
*indicates an active player who could break the record
Author: William Paul
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Featured photo: AFP / PETER BYRNE
