Most goal involvements since 2000 ranked: From Cristiano Ronaldo to Lionel Messi and Harry Kane – the blockbuster names vital to success

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The 21st century has been the era defined by Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

The pair have gone toe-to-toe in just about everything whether it was league titles, Champions Leagues and Ballons d’Or.

Ronaldo and Messi are arguably the best players everCredit: Getty

That was epitomised by the fact that between 2008 and 2023, only two other players (Luka Modric and Karim Benzema) won the prestigious individual award.

But who else has been crucial to their team? Here, talkSPORT.com looks at the players with most goal involvements - that’s goals and assists - since 2000 across Europe’s top five leagues.

This means that contributions from other leagues and international fixtures, like Messi and Ronaldo at the MLS and Saudi Pro League respectively, do not count.

Starting us off it's an Italy legend who could not stop scoring for Udinese.

20 - Antonio Di Natale

Games: 445

Goal involvements: 277

The Italy legend started off his career at Empoli, but moved to Udinese in 2004 where he was prolific.

He won the Serie A Golden Boot twice and was named in the team of the season on three occasions.

Di Natale kicks off the top 20 list

19 - Miroslav Klose

Games: 446

Goal involvements: 279

Klose was one of the most prolific Bundesliga strikers in the 21st century, starting at Kaiserslauten before starring for Werder Bremen and then Bayern Munich.

He was a two-time Bundesliga winner before finishing his career at Lazio.

Klose has an enviable record across Germany and Italy

18 - Antoine Griezmann

Games: 505

Goal involvements: 287

Although born in France, he has spent his entire career in Spain’s LaLiga, which has included two spells at Atletico Madrid sandwiched between his time at Barcelona.

His longevity has helped him gain a place on this list, with consistent goal and assist returns over his career.

Griezmann has been a top LaLiga star for yearsCredit: Getty

17 - Mohamed Salah

Games: 355

Goal involvements: 297

After a tough start to his career at Chelsea, Salah has gone on to become one of the most lethal attackers in world football.

He joined Liverpool from Roma in 2017 and has become a Premier League champion and three-time Golden Boot winner.

Salah is an undisputed Premier League iconCredit: Getty

16 - Thierry Henry

Games: 321

Goal involvements: 300

A true great of the game and remarkable, he still makes the list despite his professional career beginning in the mid-1990s with Monaco.

The four-time Premier League Golden Boot winner became an absolute legend at Arsenal, terrorising defences up and down the country.

There have been few better Premier League forwards than HenryCredit: Getty

15 - Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang

Games: 459

Goal involvements: 309

Aubameyang’s struggles in his later career make it easy to forget just how prolific he was for much of his career.

He was a superstar for Borussia Dortmund and for Arsenal for most of his time at the club.

Aubameyang was one of the best at his peakCredit: Getty

14 - Gonzalo Higuain

Games: 428

Goal involvements: 309

The Argentina striker was prolific in Europe for Real Madrid, Napoli and Juventus, winning six league titles across Spain and Italy.

Competing with superstar names like Ronaldo and Messi, he was only once named league top scorer. That was in the 2015/16 Serie A season.

Higuain had a brief spell at Chelsea, but his best years came on the continentCredit: Getty Images - Getty

13 - Edin Dzeko

Games: 509

Goal involvements: 313

Man City fans will be well aware of Dzeko’s talents in front of goal and has been one of the best strikers around this century.

As well as two Premier League titles, he lifted the Bundesliga with Wolfsburg.

Dzeko was loved by Man City fans and helped deliver their first Premier League title

12 - Wayne Rooney

Games: 491

Goal involvements: 316

Manchester United’s record goalscorer burst onto the scene as a teenager with Everton.

He was one of the most devastating forwards throughout his career, winning five Premier League titles.

Rooney is one of the best Premier League players in historyCredit: Getty

11 - Edinson Cavani

Games: 479

Goal involvements: 318

An out-and-out lethal goalscorer who was prolific for Palermo, Napoli, PSG, before finishing in Europe with Man United.

As well as numerous league titles, he won the top scorer award in both Italy and France.

Cavani was one of the best strikers in Europe at his peakCredit: getty

10 - Harry Kane

Games: 362

Goal involvements: 322

Kane may have never won a trophy in his career, but has been lethal for Tottenham and Bayern Munich.

The 31-year-old is a three-time Premier League golden boot winner, plus he won the Bundesliga equivalent in his first season at Bayern.

Kane has been smashing goals in for Bayern since his move from TottenhamCredit: Getty

9 - Francesco Totti

Games: 459

Goal involvements: 327

The epitome of a one club man, spending his entire career with Roma.

He scored 250 Serie A goals over an illustrious career, that included one league title.

Totti is a hero in Rome, never playing for another clubCredit: AFP

8 - Sergio Aguero

Games: 454

Goal involvements: 336

He became one of the greatest forwards in Premier League history after moving to Man City from Atletico Madrid.

Aguero helped them win five league titles, before a move to Barcelona that abruptly ended because of a heart problem.

Aguero was a superstar at Man City for over a decadeCredit: AFP or licensors

7 - Luis Suarez

Games: 368

Goal involvements: 356

A truly devastating forward that embarrassed Premier League and LaLiga defenders for Liverpool and Barcelona.

His goal involvement-per-game ratio is up there with the very best in history.

Suarez had a habit of embarrassing defenders across EuropeCredit: Getty

6 - Thomas Muller

Games: 483

Goal involvements: 358

Another incredible one club man is Muller, who broke the record of most Bayern Munich appearances this season.

His goals and assists have helped him win an astonishing 12 Bundesliga titles.

Muller's longevity at the top is unrivalledCredit: Getty

5 - Karim Benzema

Games: 551

Goal involvements: 423

Benzema was part of a truly great Real Madrid team and his goals were key to that too.

Recognition of his talent came when he won the Ballon d’Or in 2022.

Benzema won the Ballon d'Or in 2022Credit: AFP

4 - Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Games: 467

Goal involvements: 426

Zlatan may be the opposite of a one-club man, but he’s been no less prolific.

He has been a superstar in the Eredivisie, Serie A, LaLiga, Ligue 1, and Premier League - only the Bundesliga is missing from his record.

Ibrahimovic played for some of Europe's top sidesCredit: Getty

3 - Robert Lewandowski

Games: 466

Goal involvements: 460

For Borussia Dortmund, Bayern Munich and Barcelona, Lewandowski has been an unstoppable force in front of goal.

His near goal-per-game ratio has consistently proved him to be one of the all-time elite.

Lewandowski has been a goal machine for major European clubsCredit: Getty

2 - Cristiano Ronaldo

Games: 626

Goal involvements: 646

There is a huge gap between the top two and the rest, showing just how far ahead Ronaldo and Messi have been.

Ronaldo has been at the top for Man United, Real Madrid, and Juventus in Europe - winning trophies and individual accolades everywhere he goes.

Ronaldo's record for Real Madrid is frighteningCredit: Getty - Contributor

1 - Lionel Messi

Games: 578

Goal involvements: 743

What sets Messi apart is the assists, racking up 192 in LaLiga alone compared to Ronaldo’s 44.

Messi is an eight-time Ballon d’Or winner and serial winner of just about everything going. There’s a reason why he is the most decorated player in history.

All stats from transfermarkt.com