Hello and welcome to another LIVE coverage of UEFA Euro 2024 cup matches. This is Koushik Biswas who will bring you all the updates on the Germany vs Hungary match on Wednesday at the Stuttgart Arena in Stuttgart. 

Germany are coming from a stunning win 4-1 against Scotland, while Hungary will be coming from a tough defeat against Switzerland in Group A.

Read Also: Germany vs Hungary UEFA Euro 2024 Match Preview, Head-to-head, Possible Lineups and Fantasy XI Prediction

Hungary are unbeaten in their last three encounters against Germany, having drawn 2-2 in the Euro 2020 group stage and 1-1 in the Nations League. But, after a great win against Scotland, the hosts will be confident to rattle to Hungary team in Stuttgart.

Stay tuned for all the updates of the Germany vs Hungary match. 

Follow us on Twitter for all the updates of the match.

Subscribe to our newsletter for all the updates on your favourite sport.

Football is a sport that often brings limelight to certain footballers but sometimes keeps many at bay. Around football discussions worldwide, these footballers are not mentioned often, even after achieving significant accolades. 

Talking about the underrated footballers in International football, we must understand that it is very different from club football. It is tougher to leave a mark except performing in the continental and World Cup-like tournaments in every four years.

However, these footballers have always performed masterfully well while donning their national kit, bringing noteworthy achievements to their respective nations. Still, they have remained underrated in the consideration of either the fans or the football pundits.

Sportz Point explores the top 20 most underrated players in international football in this special article. This list is not a rank, but a summarisation of some underrated footballers who deserve more praise. 

Top 20 Most Underrated Players in International Football

Angel Di Maria

• National team: Argentina
• Position: Right Winger
• Appearances: 145
• Goals: 31
• Assists: 32

Notable trivia: Angel Di Maria is not given the importance he deserves for the recent successes of the Argentina National team. The 36-year-old winger retired from international football in July 2024, leaving behind an unmatched legacy. 

Most importantly, Di Maria won the 2022 FIFA World Cup, two Copa America titles in 2020 and 2024, and the Finalissima 2022, as he scored in each of the finals for Argentina except for the 2024 Copa, showing his towering presence for the national team. 

Di Maria remained underrated for the gigantic presence of Lionel Messi as his teammate, but nothing can belittle his huge contribution to Argentina's recent success of winning four trophies in four years.

Thomas Muller 

• National team: Germany
• Position: Attacking Midfielder
• Appearances: 131
• Goals: 45
• Assists: 41

Notable trivia: Thomas Muller has 10 goals and 6 assists in 19 World Cup appearances for Germany. The attacking midfielder registered 5 goals and 3 assists in his first-ever World Cup campaign in 2010, earning him the Golden Boot.

In the following World Cup, Muller was pivotal in Germany's World Cup glory, having scored 5 goals and 3 assists. Although he lost the Golden Ball to Lionel Messi that year, Muller was undoubtedly the best player of the German team, along with Manuel Neuer and Miroslav Klose.

Muller won the 2014 World Cup and finished third in EURO 2012 with Germany, as he retired in July 2024 after Germany's elimination from the EURO 2024.

Olivier Giroud

• National team: France
• Position: Forward
• Appearances: 137
• Goals: 57
• Assists: 15

Notable trivia: Despite playing for a country that produced goalscorers such as Thierry Henry, Michel Platini, Karim Benzema, and David Trezeguet, Olivier Giroud tops the list of the all-time top scorers for the France national team with 57 goals.

Giroud's achievements are often overlooked both at the international and club levels, though he is one of the best French footballers of this generation. Giroud finished the EURO 2016 as the joint second-highest scorer, with 3 goals and 2 assists. 

Giroud was also part of the 2018 World Cup and 2021 Nations League-winning France team, providing significant contributions to the team. He also scored 4 goals for France in the 2022 World Cup. However, the striker retired from international football in July 2024.

Davor Šuker

• National team: Croatia
• Position: Forward
• Appearances: 68
• Goals: 45
• Assists: 6

Notable trivia: Davor Šuker is arguably the greatest Croatian footballer ever, leaving an unparalleled legacy behind him for the national team.

The year 1998 is popularly known as the 'Davor Šuker Year' among football fans, as the forward led the Croatia team to a third-place finish in the 1998 World Cup. He also scored 6 goals in 7 appearances in the tournament to earn the Golden Boot. 

Šuker also won the Silver Ball as the second-best player of the tournament in 1998 WC. He is the top Croatian goalscorer of all time as well, bagging 45 goals in 68 official appearances before retiring in 2002.

Antoine Griezmann

• National team: France
• Position: Attacking Midfielder
• Appearances: 137
• Goals: 44
• Assists: 38

Notable trivia: Antoine Griezmann achieved innumerable honours with the France national team, but sadly, is often not regarded as one of the greatest international footballers ever. 

Griezmann led France to a second-place finish in EURO 2016, scoring 6 goals and 2 assists to win the Golden Boot. He was also named the Player of the Tournament in that edition.

However, Griezmann achieved his first senior international silverware in 2018, when France won the World Cup in Russia. The attacking midfielder was crucial for the team with a tally of 4 goals and the tournament-most of 4 assists, also being named the third-best player of the tournament.

Apart from the 2021 UEFA Nations League title, Girezmann orchestrated the French attack in the 2022 World Cup, providing three assists to be the joint-top assist provider. However, he retired from international football in September 2024.

Sergio Busquets

• National team: Spain
• Position: Defensive Midfielder
• Appearances: 143
• Goals: 2
• Assists: 9

Notable trivia: We all are yet to see a central-defensive midfielder in modern football who has such a high IQ in reading the game, such as Sergio Busquets. 

Busquets was popularly called 'Octopus' for his immaculate passing ability and intimidating defensive screening without breaking a sweat most of the time. the Spanish midfielder became the heart of Barcelona but his contribution was often overlooked at the national team level.

In a star-studded midfield with Xavi Hernandez and Andres Iniesta, Busquets emerged as the only one of his kind, making significant contributions to Spain's World Cup glory in 2010 and EURO 2012 victory. Busquets retired from international football in December 2022.

Hugo Lloris

• National team: France
• Position: Goalkeeper
• Appearances: 145
• Clean sheets: 68

Notable trivia: It is said in football, that being a goalkeeper is a 'thankless job'. Goalkeepers are always the last guardian of a team, but their contributions are hugely overlooked. Hugo Lloris, the former French goalkeeper is a burning example of that sensation.

Lloris kept three clean-sheets in all 7 appearances for France in the World Cup 2018, leading the team to the final glory. The French custodian has kept a staggering 68 clean-sheets overall for France in 145 appearances.

He also captained the Les Bleus in three World Cup editions from 2014 to 2022. Lloris retired from the national team in January 2023, being the most-capped player for France in history.

Edin Džeko

• National team: Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Position: Forward
• Appearances: 139
• Goals: 67
• Assists: 29

Notable trivia: Edin Džeko is not often mentioned as one of the best international footballers in the modern era, only because he represents a country like Bosnia, that mostly fail to apear in big tournaments.

Yet Džeko, the greatest Bosnian footballer, led the Bosnia team to its first-ever World Cup appearance in 2014 after scoring a whopping 10 goals to be the second-top scorer in the qualification round.

He also scored 9 goals in the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifying round to be the second-top scorer in the qualification round as well. Džeko also ranks sixth among the active footballers with most international goals.

Michael Laudrup

• National team: Denmark
• Position: Midfielder
• Appearances: 103
• Goals: 37
• Assists: 14

Notable trivia: Michael Laudrup is often considered the greatest Danish footballer of all time, yet he doesn't always receive the full recognition that his remarkable talent deserves. He delivered outstanding performances for Denmark, scoring 37 goals in 103 appearances.

Laudrup won the 1995 Confederations Cup with Denmark, providing commendable performances throughout the tournament. German legend Franz Beckenbauer praised the Danish midfielder in the best possible way, saying, “Pele was the best in the 60s, Cruyff in the 70s, Maradona in the 80s, and Laudrup in the 90s.”

Gabriel Batistuta

• National team: Argentina
• Position: Forward
• Appearances: 78
• Goals: 56
• Assists: 14

Notable trivia: Gabriel Batistuta was nicknamed 'Batigol' for his ability to score from almost anywhere on the pitch with unmatched power and precision.

Batistuta was mostly recognized for his inhuman performance in the 1991 Copa America, as Argentina won the title and he was the highest goalscorer of the tournament with 6 goals. He won his second Copa with Argentina in 1993, scoring a brace in the final.

Although he could not achieve the coveted success in the World Cups, Batistuta was one of the greatest footballers for Argentina in the World Cups, with 10 goals in 12 appearances.

Andrea Pirlo

• National team: Italy
• Position: Midfielder
• Appearances: 116
• Goals: 13
• Assists: 25

Notable trivia: Current UEFA vice-president and former Polish footballer Zbigniew Boniek praised Andrea Pirlo by saying something that probably best defines the Italian midfielder. He stated, "To pass the ball to Andrea Pirlo is like to hide it in a safe."

Andrea Pirlo is inarguably one of the most prolific playmakers who ever graced the football pitch. Famous for his outstanding passing and free-kick skills, Pirlo was essential to Italy's victory in the 2006 World Cup. Pirlo won three man of the match awards in the tournament, most by any player in that edition. 

Retiring in 2017, Pirlo remains one of the supreme players who played exceptionally well at international levels, but the recognition was never enough to praise the midfied maestro.

Ronald Koeman

• National team: Netherlands
• Position: Defender
• Appearances: 78
• Goals: 14
• Assists: 10

Notable trivia: Ronald Koeman is often overlooked, but he was a top-tier central defender known for his exceptional passing ability and masterful free-kick skills. With a record of 238 goals across club and international levels, Koeman is the highest-scoring defender in football history. 

However, the defender was a crucial part of Rinus Michels' formidable Netherlands team in the 90s, which won the 1988 European Championship. He also won the Dutch Footballer of the Year award twice in 1987 and 1988.

Klaas-Jan Huntelaar

• National team: Netherlands
• Position: Forward
• Appearances: 76
• Goals: 42
• Assists: 12

Notable trivia: Klaas-Jan Huntelaar is often overlooked among the contemporary Dutch stars of his generation. The forward is the third-highest goalscorer for the Dutch national team, with 42 goals.

Although he had a brief appearance in the 2010 World Cup, Huntelaar proved himself crucial for the team, scoring the most goals (12) in the 2012 European championship qualification round.

However, he was also a part of the Netherlands squad that finished third in the 2014 World Cup. He retired in 2021 but never got the recognition he deserved.

George Best

• National team: Northern Ireland
• Position: Winger
• Appearances: 37
• Goals: 9
• Assists: 0

Notable trivia: "Maradona Good, Pele Better, George Best" is the greatest quotation that can define how good George Best was. The Irish winger is also considered as the greatest footballer who never played in a World Cup. 

Despite having immense talent and potential, he is often overlooked in the discussion of the greatest footballers. He was named European Player of the Year in 1968, delivering consistent performance for his club and national team.

If he did not struggle with his self-destructing lifestyle, he may have achieved more accolades with Northern Ireland before retiring in 1982.

Gheorghe Hagi

• National team: Romania
• Position: Attacking Midfielder
• Appearances: 124
• Goals: 35
• Assists: 23

Notable trivia: Gheorghe Hagi was such a good player that he was nicknamed "Maradona of the Carpathians". The attacking midfielder was also called 'Regele', which translates to 'The King' for his immaculate shooting ability, playmaking skills, and vision on the pitch.

The attacking midfielder was the heart of an exciting Romania team of the 1990s. Hagi put up a memorable performance for Romania in the 1994 World Cup, scoring 3 goals and providing 4 assists to lead the team to the quarter-finals, where they eventually lost against Sweden.

He retired in 2001 but still holds the record for the most goals scored for the Romania national team, alongside Adrian Mutu, with 35 goals.

Günter Netzer

• National team: Germany
• Position: Midfielder
• Appearances: 37
• Goals: 6
• Assists: 9

Notable trivia: Günter Netzer played an integral role in Germany's 1972 European Championship victory.
The midfielder provided two assists in the semi-final of the tournament, inspiring a 2-1 win over Belgium.

Netzer was also included in the 1974 World Cup squad for Germany. Although he did not play in the final, Netzer is still regarded as the first World Cup winner who, at the time of his victory, played for a club based outside his home country.

Despite not having many opportunities to represent the national team, he was often considered as one of the best German footballers in the 70s.

Hristo Stoichkov

• National team: Bulgaria
• Position: Winger
• Appearances: 83
• Goals: 37
• Assists: 8

Notable trivia: Hristo Stoichkov was the standout performer in the 1994 World Cup as he inspired Bulgaria to a fourth-place finish and was awarded the Golden Boot for being the top scorer with 6 goals. In the tournament, he scored in the shock wins against Argentina in the Group stage and against Germany in the quarter-finals.

Stoichkov, who re-defined the 'inverted winger' role in world football, scored 37 goals in 83 games for the Bulgarian national team before retiring from international football in 1999.

Gaetano Scirea

• National team: Italy
• Position: Sweeper Defender
• Appearances: 78
• Goals: 2
• Assists: 1

Notable trivia: Despite Franco Baresi's absence, Gaetano Scirea was pivotal in Italy’s victorious 1982 World Cup-winning campaign. The defender, who played mostly as a sweeper, remained underrated due to his contemporary Italian defenders. 

Playing for a country where the best defenders are born and brought up, Scirea always stayed out of the recognition. His untimely death at the age of 36 in 1989 also restricted his legacy.

Rudi Völler 

• National team: Germany
• Position: Forward
• Appearances: 90
• Goals: 47
• Assists: 18

Notable trivia: Rudi Völler was a very dependable player striker at both club and international levels. He came off the bench to equalize in the 1986 World Cup Final after scoring in the semi-final against France. Unfortunately, the Germans lost the final against Argentina. However, after four years, he played a crucial role for Germany that became World Champions in 1990, scoring 3 goals and 2 assists.

His contemporary Jurgen Klinsmann always received the highlight for the Germans, but it can not tear down his achievements with the national team. Völler's international goal-scoring record is impressive with a staggering 47 goals in 90 caps.

Matthias Sammer

• National team: Germany
• Position: Defensive/Central Midfielder
• Appearances: 51
• Goals: 8
• Assists: 3

Notable trivia: Matthias Sammer was sometimes overlooked compared to their contemporary Franco Baresi and Paolo Maldini. However, he played a crucial role in Germany's victory at the 1996 European Championship, where he was named the tournament's best player. 

The midfielder also won the Ballon d'Or in 1996 and was also named the German Footballer of the Year in 1996, after earning the same accolade in 1995.

Players who earn a place in the starting eleven crash into the headlines mostly, but those who come off the bench are never insignificant. Depending on the situation and for various other tactical and strategic moves, substitute players can make huge differences when things start getting tough on the pitch. 

Sportzpoint explores the greatest substitutions that changed the football history and remained folkloric.

Mario Gotze

(Germany vs Argentina, FIFA World Cup Final 2014)

Mario Gotze lived the dream of every footballer back in 2014 when he scored the only goal against Argentina in the Final to take Germany to their fourth World Cup glory. 

What a goal to win it! 🤯 🇩🇪 @MarioGoetze, #OnThisDay in 2014 ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ #FIFAWorldCup | @DFB_Team pic.twitter.com/gluKvx1o8v

— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) July 13, 2022

Gotze came off the bench replacing the legendary Miroslav Klose, only two minutes before the full-time whistle but the game ended goalless. However, in the 113 minute of AET, Gotze received Schurrle's pass on the left and from a close range to the goal; and his left-footed strike fooled Argentina keeper Romero to end up in the goal. 

Argentina could not bounce back from this late setback and Germany lifted the World Cup 2014. Mario Gotze's substitution remained one of the most impactful in the history of football. 

Gareth Bale

(Real Madrid vs Liverpool, UCL Final 2017-18)

Gareth Bale admitted in an interview with FourFourTwo that he was very frustrated after not getting a start for Real Madrid in the 2017-18 UCL Final against Liverpool. However, Bale's fallout with Real Madrid's then-manager Zinedine Zidane led us to experience one of the greatest substitutions in the Champions League's history.

After a goalless first half, Karim Benzema opened the scoring in the 51st minute; but Sadio Mane only took 4 minutes to equalize for Liverpool. In the 61st minute, Bale replaced Isco but who would have thought that the Welshman was going to rewrite history and all by himself? 

#GoalOfTheDay | Gareth Bale vs Liverpool (2018) pic.twitter.com/B4dA2c4FV2

— EuroFoot (@eurofootcom) March 19, 2023

Only 3 minutes after Bale came on, Marcelo's cross found him in the box and Bale produced an acrobatic overhead volley, and the ball ended up in the net. Bale sealed the victory for Madrid in the 83rd minute with a rocketed strike which made Liverpool keeper Karius fumble and the ball went inside. Coming off the bench, Gareth Bale scored this heroic brace to lead Real Madrid to win their third consecutive UCL title.

Eder

(Portugal vs France, EURO 2016 Final)

Eder became an overnight sensation after slotting a late strike to win Portugal the EURO 2016, their first-ever major trophy in history. 

France and Portugal both wasted opportunities in the full-time but things became very wrong for Portugal way before. In the 25th minute, the talisman Cristiano Ronaldo faced a rough challenge from Dimitri Payet, and he was subbed off injured. However, Eder came off the bench in the 79th minute of the Final but the 90-minute of play ended in a stalemate of a 0-0 scoreline.

🇵🇹🚀 7 years ago today: Portugal beat France 1-0 in the EURO 2016 final courtesy of this goal from Éder in extra-time! pic.twitter.com/vsNwduJugw

— EuroFoot (@eurofootcom) July 10, 2023

But it was Eder, who only played 13 minutes in the tournament, stepped up and broke the deadlock to score the only goal in the final in the 109th minute. France could not produce a comeback as Portugal and Cristiano Ronaldo lifted their first-ever major international trophy.

Ilkay Gundogan

(Manchester City vs Aston Villa, 2021-22 Premier League)

It was a neck-to-neck battle between Manchester City and Liverpool in the 2021-22 Premier League title race. Before heading into the last matchday on 22 May 2022, Manchester City was atop the table with 90 points in 37 matches and Liverpool was positioned just behind with 89 points in the same number of games.

Manchester City was set to face Aston Villa in the last match of the season and a win would ensure their fourth consecutive PL title. However, things did not go as planned for Pep Guardiola's men as Matty Cash scored for Villa in the 37th minute, and Philippe Coutinho extended the lead in the 69th minute. Coincidentally, Ilkay Gundogan replaced Bernardo Silva just one minute before Villa's second goal. Man City's title contender Liverpool was playing Wolves at the same time and they were held to a 1-1 draw after 70 minutes.

Run it back. ⏪@IlkayGuendogan's return to @ManCity has got us thinking about his iconic super-sub performance to help win the 2021/22 title 😮‍💨 pic.twitter.com/ENkxMiRUnQ

— Premier League (@premierleague) August 23, 2024

What happened afterward will always be written in golden words in the Premier League's history. It was Ilkay Gundogan who scored City's first goal in the 76th minute as his powerful header went in. Just two minutes later, Rodri placed a powerful strike to level the scoreline by 2-2 and City was back on top of the table.

𝘓𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘚𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘢𝘺. 𝘖𝘯𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬𝘴 🏆 @ManCity pic.twitter.com/DSU9p1cmcO

— Premier League India (@PLforIndia) May 29, 2022

It did not take much time for Gundogan to score his second and City's third as he put the ball inside with a close-range tap-in to almost win the league for City! The match eventually ended as City won the game by 3-2 and clinched their fourth consecutive PL title, all thanks to the German's magic after coming off the bench. 

Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer 

(Manchester United vs Bayern Munich, 1998-99 UCL Final)

The world witnessed one of the greatest UCL finals ever on 27 May 1999 when Manchester United and Bayern Munich faced off for the coveted glory. Manchester United won the game by 2-1 in such an otherworldly manner that it still mesmerizes the next generation, and everything happened because of two substitute players, Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. 

Bayern Munich took an early by scoring in the 6th minute of the match. Manchester United could not break the deadlock and headed into the break trailing 0-1. Teddy Sheringham replaced Jesper Blomqvist in the 67th minute and Solskjaer was brought in by Sir Alex Ferguson to replace Andy Cole in the 81st minute. 

On this day in 1999, Manchester United completed the historic treble after scoring two injury time goals to beat Bayern Munich! 🏆 pic.twitter.com/odhsJL5BqG

— SPORTbible (@sportbible) May 26, 2021

The game was in favour of Bayern even after 90 minutes but Sheringham slotted the ball home in just one minute into the injury time to equalize for the Red Devils. Solskjaer achieved the final glory with a simple tap-in only after two minutes, and thus the two substitutes led United to the Champions League victory.

Both in international and club football, goals often steal the limelight but in most cases, the orchestration that creates the pathway of a goal is an assist from a teammate. Every player plays very less international matches compared to club games and that is why it is tougher to accumulate a huge number of goals and assists in international football.

There are some players whose longevity, creativity, and passion for the game let them enter the chart of the players with most assists in international football. Let's look at the list consisting of the top 10 players. 

10. David Beckham - 36 Assists

The British football sensation, David Beckham made his debut with the England national team in 1996 and made 115 appearances before retiring from international football in May 2013.

Beckham was the Ballon d'Or Runner-up in 1999 and he was named English Player of the Year in 2003. In 2008, the FA enlisted him in the English Football Hall of Fame.  

Along with 17 international goals, Beckham also made 36 assists which makes him 10th in the list. 

9. Mesut Ozil - 40 Assists

One of the greatest playmakers the game has ever witnessed, Mesut Ozil debuted in 2009 for the Germany national team. Ozil played in three world cups with Germany and won the coveted trophy in 2014. 

Ozil retired from international football as a form of protest after Germany crashed out of the group stage in the 2018 World Cup and the DFB President Grindel accused him of racism. However, Ozil won the German Player of the Year Award 5 times in 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, and 2016.

Before retiring, Ozil already made 92 appearances for Germany and had 40 assists by his name. 

8. Pele - 47 Assists*

Arguably one of the greatest footballers of all time, Pele debuted for the Brazil national team at the age of 16 in 1957 in a friendly against Argentina. He lifted three World Cups (formerly known as the Jules Rimet Trophy) for Brazil in 1958, 1962, and 1970 which is a Guinness record for the most World Cup wins by a single player.

The TIME named him as the greatest footballer of the 20th century and Reuters named him as the Greatest athlete of the century in 1999. 

According to some estimated data, Pele made 92 appearances for Brazil and he provided 47 assists before retiring from international football in 1977. 

7. Cristiano Ronaldo - 47 Assists

One of the most influential athletes of the 21st century and considered one of the greatest footballers ever, Cristiano Ronaldo debuted in the Portugal national team in 2003 and made a significant effect in Portuguese football for almost 22 years. 

Winning the EURO 2016 and UEFA Nations League 2018-19 for Portugal, the five-time Ballon winner established himself as the greatest Portuguese footballer of all-time.

Cristiano is now the captain of the national team and he has made 216 appearances for Portugal so far. He is the highest goalscorer ever in the history of international football as well with 133 goals by his name. Besides his brilliant goalscoring prowess, Ronaldo has also made 47 assists in international matches so far.

6. Kevin De Bruyne - 49 Assists

Kevin De Bruyne is one of the finest midfielders of this generation for his exquisite playmaking ability and skillful display on the pitch. He is considered one of the greatest Belgian footballers ever and he was a very crucial part of the famous Golden Generation of Belgium. 

He was a memorable part of the Belgium squad that finished third in the 2018 World Cup and was included in the official 2018 WC Dream Team.

The 33-year-old midfielder made his Belgium senior team debut in 2010 and has made 107 appearances so far. During this journey, De Bruyne has provided 49 assists as of now.  

5. Sandor Kocsis - 50 Assists*

The Hungarian forward Sandor Peter Kocsis stands fifth on the list. Kocsis debuted for the Hungary national team in 1948 at the age of 18 and played almost 70 matches before retiring in 1966. 

Kocsis was the highest goalscorer in the 1954 World Cup with 11 goals including two hat-tricks. He also scored 6 goals for the Hungary national team in the 1952 Helsinki Olympics and led them to win the Gold medal.

According to estimated data sources, Sandor Kocsis scored 75 goals for the national team and he also made 50 assists in international football.

4. Ferenc Puskás - 53 Assists*

Another Hungarian, and probably the greatest Hungarian footballer ever, Ferenc Puskás made his debut for the Hungary national team in 1945. He played 85 games for the national team and scored 84 goals. 

Puskás was another crucial part of the Hungary team that won the Gold medal in the 1952 Helsinki Olympics as he scored 4 goals in that tournament. Puskás also scored 4 goals in the 1954 World Cup including the opening goal in the final but Hungary lost to West Germany by 2-3. 

Puskás also played for the Spain national team for 4 times. He was named European Player of the 20th Century by L'Equipe. 

Before retiring from football in 1966, Puskás had 53 assists by his name. 

3. Lionel Messi - 57 Assists

Arguably considered the greatest footballer ever, Lionel Messi is both one of the best goalscorers and playmakers to ever grace the game. Debuting in 2005, Lionel Messi has made 189 appearances for the Argentina national team so far. 

Messi's greatest honour with the national team came in 2022 when he led Argentina to win the 2022 World Cup, and he was named the Best Player of the Tournament. Messi is the only player to win two Golden Ball awards in 2014 and 2022. 

The record 8-time Ballon winner also won two Copa Americas with Argentina, consecutively in 2021 and 2024. 

With 112 goals for the national team, he also made 57 assists in international games and he will surely surpass the toppers of the list in his remaining appearances for Argentina. 

2. Neymar Jr. - 58 Assists

The greatest Brazilian footballer of this generation, Neymar Jr. is another forward whose display is not only exquisite in goalscoring but also in playmaking. 

Neymar Jr. made his debut with the Brazilian national team in 2010 and won the Golden Ball for being selected as the best player of the tournament in Brazil's Confederations Cup triumph in 2013. He scored 4 goals and made 2 assists in 5 matches in that tournament.

However, after suffering a horrendous injury in the 2014 World Cup, Neymar led the Brazil team to win the Olympics Gold on home soil in the 2016 Rio Olympics. 

Neymar is also the all-time highest goalscorer of Brazil's national football team with 79 goals by his name. Neymar is tied with the leader on this list with his 58 assists in 129 international appearances but he will surely clinch the top spot in his remaining career. 

1. Landon Donovan - 58 Assists

The USMNT footballing legend is the leader in this list which may shock some but does not demean his excellence. Landon Donovan is considered the greatest footballer the USMNT has ever had. Making his debut in 2000 for the USMNT, he made 157 appearances before retiring from international football in 2014. 

Landon Donovan appeared in 3 editions of the World Cup and scored 5 goals in 12 World Cup appearances. He also won 4 CONCACAF Gold Cups with USMNT in 2002, 2005, 2007, and 2013. After his retirement, Donovan was named as the greatest-ever USMNT player by The Guardian.

Landon Donovan is still atop the list with 58 international assists by his name. 

NB: In case of starred (*) players, there are no authentic records, and their stats are mostly estimated by various sources. 

Germany is going to take on the Netherlands in a scintillating clash in the UEFA Nations League group game tonight, scheduled to kick off at 12:15 AM IST on 15 October 2024. The two teams will set their foot in the iconic Allianz Arena Stadium in Munich where the German home crowd will welcome the visitors, the Dutch brigade.

Currently standing on the top of Nations League Group A3 with 7 points earned in 3 matches so far, Germany will face the second-placed Netherlands who are at 5 points in the same amout of matches played.

Germany will utilize their home advantage in this match after a smooth away victory by 2-1 against Bosnia & Herzegovina. Deniz Undav scored a brace and now has scored 3 goals in his two Nations League outings for Germany.

On the other hand, the Netherlands faced an unexpected result in their last game against Hungary, managing a frustrating 1-1 away draw after Denzel Dumfries scored in the 83rd minute to save the day for the Dutch. 

Match Details

Match: Germany vs Netherlands 

Date: 15 October 2024

Time: 12:15 AM IST

Venue: Allianz Arena, Munich, Germany 

Streaming Details

Indian viewers can stream the game live on the SonyLIV app and website. The TV broadcast will be on Sony Sports Network channels.

Head-to-head Stats (Since 2004)

Matches Played: 12

Germany wins: 4

Netherlands wins: 2

Draws: 6

Previous Records 

Since the 2004 EURO, Germany and Netherlands have faced each other 12 times over almost 20 years. Germany emerged victorious 4 times while Netherlands snatched the win 2 times. In their last face-off on 11th September 2024, Germany held a 2-2 against Netherlands in the same clash in the UEFA Nations League. 

Here are the previous records between these two teams since EURO 2004:

Sports governing bodies are constantly tweaking the rules of play to enhance competition, player safety, and fan experience. Several major leagues rolled out impactful new regulations for the 2024 season. Let's explore some of the most notable changes in sports rules introduced across football, baseball, soccer, cricket, rugby, and more this year.

New Kickoff Format in the NFL

The NFL overhauled its kickoff rules for 2024 in an effort to improve safety and boost excitement. Kickoffs now feature a "landing zone" between the receiving team's goal line and 20-yard line. Aside from the kicker, the kicking team lines up 5 yards apart at the receiving team's 40-yard line. They can't move until the ball is caught or hits the ground.

This setup encourages more returns while reducing high-speed collisions that commonly cause concussions. Additional changes allow creative onside kick attempts in the 4th quarter. So far, the revamped kickoffs have been well-received. Returns are up, injuries are down, and fans are enjoying the intriguing strategic implications.

Fewer 100-Minute Matches at Euro 2024

Football matches stretching well over 100 minutes due to excessive injury time were commonplace at the 2022 World Cup. But Europe's governing body UEFA took a different approach for its 2024 European Championship tournament. Rather than meticulously adding on every second lost to celebrations and subs, referees focused on restarting play quickly.

As a result, Euro 2024 matches adhered much closer to 90 minutes on average. Only captains could speak to referees, reducing dissent. VAR explanations were also displayed on stadium screens to improve transparency. While some fans missed the added drama, others appreciated UEFA reining in meandering matches.

Read Also | Top Five youngest scorers in UEFA Euro history 

New Pace-of-Play Rules in Major League Baseball

MLB introduced several subtle but impactful rule tweaks for 2024 designed to improve pace-of-play. The pitch timer was reduced from 20 to 18 seconds with runners on base, attempting to claw back some of the time increase observed over the course of last season.

Mound visits were reduced from 5 to 4 per team. Pitching changes now shave 15 seconds off the between-innings timer. Circumvention tactics like delaying the pitcher's arrival to the mound and meeting the umpire before he places the ball in play are now prohibited.

While games still averaged nearly 3 hours, these changes represent MLB's continued efforts to combat dead time. Fans have responded positively to the increased flow and action.

MLB also issued new guidance aimed at reducing unsafe blocking of bases. Players will be called for obstruction if they position themselves to impede a runner's path before receiving the ball. This protects baserunners while encouraging aggressive base-running.

New Penalty Law in English Football

One of the most discussed rule changes in English football this season regards penalties. IFAB clarified that referees should not automatically show a yellow card to players who commit handball and concede a penalty. This gives referees more flexibility when interpreting intent on handballs.

The aim is to only caution players for deliberate, tactical fouls. Inadvertent handballs leading to penalties should not draw a booking. This nuanced approach has received praise for balancing fairness and common sense application of the rules. Those who take advantage of a free bet offer from Kwiff and bet on bookings will need to bear this new rule in mind.

Read Also | Like umpire's call, Premier League introduces referee's call: Here are all the new things you will see in Premier League this season 

More Points for Drawn Matches in County Cricket

In the 2024 County Championship cricket tournament, a drawn match will now be rewarded with 8 points for each county. This is increased from 5 points for a draw last season. The aim is to better incentivise teams to bat long while still pushing for victory.

With batting bonus points unchanged, the tweaked draw points system should encourage high-quality pitches and competitive multi-day cricket.

New Offside Law in Rugby

World Rugby introduced a law change regarding offside in front of a kicker for 2024. Previously, a player could be deemed onside if the opposing catcher ran 5 meters or passed the ball after fielding a kick. The new law removes these allowances, requiring offside players to actively work to get onside rather than remaining stationary. This should reduce "kick tennis" stalemates and improve flow.

The key sports leagues are thinking creatively about how to improve their product. It will be fascinating to see what new regulations are tested out across various sports in the years to come. For now, the early returns on this year's crop of rule changes are largely positive. The altered kick-off format, pitch timer adjustments, and base-blocking guidance all seem to be enhancing their respective sports.