Kylian Mbappe of France and Erling Haaland of Norway, who are competing for the Golden Boot at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America, share something in common. Both have "ace providers" who create scoring chances with high-quality passes. As the Golden Boot race heats up, the contest for the assist crown is burning just as brightly.
According to FIFA on the 9th, the current leader in the assist rankings is Michael Olise of France, who has recorded five assists. Playing in five matches at this tournament, Olise leads the assist chart with precise left-footed passes and pinpoint crosses. Three of his assists have led to goals by Mbappe.
If Olise adds two more assists in the remaining matches, he would break the record for the most assists in a single World Cup, the six set by Pele of Brazil at the 1970 Mexico tournament.
Brahim Diaz, the key figure in the attack of Morocco, Africa's only remaining hope, is also a strong candidate for the assist crown. Diaz sits second in the assist rankings with four assists. The four assists mark a new record for the most assists by an African player in a single World Cup.
The ace provider for Norway's "monster striker" Haaland is 22-year-old midfielder Andreas Sheldrup. With three assists, Sheldrup has set up two of Haaland's seven goals, providing significant support to his scoring run. In particular, in the round-of-16 match against powerhouse Brazil, he assisted both of Haaland's goals, making a major contribution to Norway's first-ever advance to the World Cup quarterfinals.
England winger Bukayo Saka, who is currently tied for fourth in the assist rankings with three assists, is another candidate who cannot be overlooked for the assist crown. Saka has assisted two goals by Jude Bellingham and one by Kane at this tournament. If he adds one more assist, he would rewrite the record for the most assists by an England player in a single World Cup, the three set by English "legend" David Beckham at the 2002 tournament in Korea and Japan.
