Qatar 2022, quality abounds in the Middle East and we’re spoilt for choice: here’s who our favourite
It certainly won’t have the same appeal as the probable top scorer, the one who usually – be it club or national team – scores goals in buckets. But if, for example, we stay in fantasy football, then the player who churns out the highest number of assists – giving bonus after bonus to his fantasy manager – will always have a point. And while it is true that before every world championship or major international event you bet on practically everything, in this post we will try to identify who could be the best assistman at Qatar 2022. A far from easy task, considering that the Middle East is really the crème de la crème.
Difficult yes, but not for the bookmakers, who seem to have very few doubts about it. At the top of their preferences are Lionel Messi and Neymar. Two best friends, playing for the same club, who could play each other in the semi-finals – if Brazil and Argentina both win their group – and create a memorable duel. According to the bookies, no one will provide more assists than the two stars of the Seleçao and the Albiceleste.
Qatar 2022, De Bruyne can edge out Messi and Neymar
De Bruyne
In our opinion, however, there is someone who can do better than the two South Americans. And that someone is Kevin De Bruyne, Manchester City and Belgium’s ‘all-rounder’ who famously excels in this speciality. If the Red Devils want to have their say in this World Cup, they can only rely on their most talented player, who also showed himself in the last World Cup in Russia and a year and a half ago at Euro 2020, with his Belgium side reaching the semi-finals and quarters respectively.
Ex aequo with De Bruyne, at a still relatively low price is Kylian Mbappé, the brightest star of Psg and reigning World Champion France. Finally, among the possible outsiders, the name of Lazio’s Milinkovic-Savic, lighthouse of Serbia’s midfield, and Argentina’s Paulo Dybala stand out, although in the case of the Roma player much will depend on his physical condition. His compatriot Angel Di Maria, already unleashed (two assists) and inspired in the friendly in Abu Dhabi with the Emirates, may have a better chance.