The top 15 best passers in the world as of 2023: Global ranking

The top 15 best passers in the world as of 2023: Global ranking

Ciku Njuguna, Peris Walubengo
updated at April 12, 2023 at 7:57 PM

The best passers in the world have impressive precision and accuracy. To be a king of the pass in football, they must know how to move the ball quickly among teammates and put it in an excellent position for a shot on goal. Discover the world's best passers below and fascinating facts about them.

Thebest passers in the world
Photo: canva.com (modified by author)
Source: UGC

Like in the English dictionary, a pass in football means moving the ball from one player to another. Soccer players considered the best passers worldwide are naturally gifted in passing balls. They rarely miss their marked teammates.

Who are the best passers in the world of football?

Good passing can help a team win games because the one you pass the ball to can score or control it and keep it away from the opponents. Below are the best football passers in the world in 2023:

15. James Ward-Prowse

best passers in the world
James Ward-Prowse of Southampton. Photo: @prowsey16
Source: Facebook
  • Full name: James Michael Edward Ward-Prowse
  • Date of birth: 1 November 1994
  • Age: 28 years (as of March 2023)
  • Nationality: English
  • Height: 1.73 m
  • Position: Midfielder
  • Club: Southampton FC
  • Market transfer value: $37 million
  • Twitter: @Prowsey16
  • Instagram: @prowsey16
  • Facebook: @prowsey16

English star James Ward-Prowse of Southampton averages 50 passes per match. He has a pass completion rate of 83% and has 2 assists. The player has an impressive 60% accuracy rate.

14. Bruno Fernandes

top passers in the world
Bruno Fernandes of Manchester United. Photo: @BrunoFernandesOfficial
Source: Facebook
  • Full name: Bruno Miguel Borges Fernandes
  • Nickname: Magnifico
  • Date of birth: 8 September 1994
  • Age: 28 years (as of March 2023)
  • Nationality: Portuguese
  • Height: 1.79m
  • Position (s): Striker, Midfielder
  • Club: Manchester United
  • Current market value: $100 million
  • Twitter: @B_Fernandes8
  • Instagram: @brunofernandes.10
  • Facebook: @BrunoFernandesOfficial

Attacking midfielder Bruno Fernandes of Manchester United has a 77% pass completion rate in the 21/22 Premier League season with a 78.5% accuracy rate. In 2021, he was named the best passer in the Premier League.

13. Trent Alexander- Arnold

world's best passers
Trent Alexander of Liverpool. Photo: @trentarnold66
Source: Facebook
  • Full name: Trent Alexander-Arnold
  • Nickname: Melwood Grandmaster
  • Date of birth: 7 October 1998
  • Age: 24 years (as of March 2023)
  • Nationality: English
  • Height: 1.75 m
  • Position (s): Defender - right back
  • Club: Liverpool FC
  • Market transfer value: $89 million
  • Twitter: @TrentAA
  • Instagram: @trentarnold66
  • Facebook: @trentarnold66

Liverpool FC's Trent Alexander is the best fullback in the world right now. He has a 78% pass completion rate and an 80% accuracy rate. Trent Alexander's market transfer value is $89 million.

12. Kevin De Bruyne

Kevin De Bruyne
De Bruyne of Manchester City. Photo: @ Tom Flathers/Manchester City FC.
Source: Getty Images
  • Full name: Kevin De Bruyne
  • Nickname: The Ginger Pele
  • Date of birth: 28 June 1991
  • Age: 31 years (as of March 2023)
  • Nationality: Belgian
  • Height: 1.81m
  • Position (s): Attacking and central midfielder
  • Club: Manchester City
  • Current market value: $99 million
  • Instagram: @kevindebruyne
  • Twitter: @DeBruyneKev

Belgian player Kevin De Bruyne is Man City's top midfielder. He has a record 83% passing completion rate and excellent accuracy skills. Bruyne was named as the best passer in FIFA 2022.

11. James Rodriguez

best passers in the world
James Rodriguez of Olympiacos. Photo: @10Jamesrodriguez
Source: Facebook

The Greek Super League club, Olympiacos, has one of the best passers ever. James Rodriguez assisted 5 goals in 17 matches in the 2022/2023 Super League season. He passes the ball around 66.88 times during a game with an 84.84% pass completion rate and 63.64% shooting accuracy.

10. Paul Pogba

best passers in the world
Paul Pogba of Juventus. Photo: @PaulPogba
Source: Facebook
  • Full name: Paul Labile Pogba
  • Date of birth: 15 March 1993
  • Age: 29 years (as of March 2023)
  • Nationality: French
  • Height: 1.91 m
  • Position: Midfielder
  • Club: Juventus
  • Current market value: $37 million
  • Instagram: @paulpogba
  • Twitter: @paulpogba
  • Facebook: @PaulPogba

Juventus powerhouse Paul Pogba is among the top 10 passers in football. He averages 10 passes per match with an 83.05% pass-completion rate and 90% pass-success rate. The French soccer star has not played a game in the 2022/23 Italian Serie A season as of March 2023.

9. Pedro Leon

best passers in the world
Pedro Leon of Real Murcia. Photo: @PLeonSanchez
Source: Instagram
  • Full name: Pedro León Sánchez Gil
  • Date of birth: 24 November 1986
  • Age: 36 years (as of March 2023)
  • Nationality: Spanish
  • Height: 1.83 m
  • Position: Midfielder
  • Club: Real Murcia
  • Current market value: $850,0000
  • Instagram: @pleonsanchez
  • Twitter: @PLeonSanchez

The Real Murcia midfielder has a pass completion rate of 84%. Some sources estimate his passing accuracy as 86%. Pedro Leon averages 33 passes per match and has received 4 yellow and zero red cards.

8. Dani Parejo

best passers 2023
Dani Parejo of Villarreal. Photo: @daniparejo10
Source: Facebook
  • Full name: Daniel Parejo Muñoz
  • Nickname: Dani
  • Date of birth: 16 April 1989
  • Age: 33 years (as of March 2023)
  • Nationality: Spanish
  • Height: 1.82m
  • Position: Attacking midfield
  • Club (s): Villareal
  • Current market value: $10 million
  • Twitter: @DaniParejo
  • Instagram: @dani_parejo10
  • Facebook: @daniparejo10

Villareal's midfielder Dani Parejo takes seventh place on this list of the best passers in the world. His passing stats stand at an 87% pass completion rate and an 85.15% accuracy rate.

7. Lionel Messi

best passer 2023
Messi of Paris Saint-Germain. Photo: @leomessi
Source: Facebook
  • Full name: Lionel Andrés Messi
  • Nickname: La Pulga
  • Date of birth: 24 June 1987
  • Age: 35 years (as of March 2023)
  • Nationality: Argentine
  • Height: 1.69 m
  • Position (s): Right-winger, center-forward, striker
  • Club: Paris Saint-Germain
  • Current market value: $66 million
  • Instagram: @leomessi
  • Facebook: @leomessi

Argentine star Lionel Messi has won the prestigious Ballon d'Or award 7 times. The PSG captain has a pass completion rate of 86% with an 89% accuracy rate.

6. Joshua Kimmich

top passers in the world as of 2023
Joshua Kimmich of Bayern Munich. Photo: @jo.kimmich
Source: Facebook
  • Full name: Joshua Kimmich
  • Nickname: Mentality monster
  • Date of birth: 8 February 1995
  • Age: 28 years (as of March 2023)
  • Nationality: German
  • Height: 1.77 m
  • Position (s): Defensive and central Midfield
  • Club: FC Bayern
  • Current market value: $94 million
  • Twitter: @JoshuaKimmich
  • Instagram: @jok_32
  • Facebook: @jo.kimmich

German player Joshua Kimmich of FC Bayern ranks among the world's best passing midfielders and top defensive players. He has an 87% pass completion rate and an 89.9% accuracy rate.

5. David Silva

best passers in the world
David Silva of Real Sociedad. Photo: @davidsilvaoficial
Source: Facebook
  • Full name: David Josué Jiménez Silva
  • Date of birth: 8 January 1986
  • Age: 37 years (as of March 2023)
  • Nationality: Spanish
  • Height: 1.7 m
  • Position: Midfielder
  • Club: Real Sociedad
  • Current market value: $4 million
  • Instagram: @david21lva
  • Twitter: @21LVA
  • Facebook: @davidsilvaoficial

Midfielder David Silva of Real Sociedad averages 40 passes per match. He has a pass completion rate of 86% and 85% passing accuracy. He is one of the best midfielders Real Sociedad has ever had.

4. Jorginho

best passers 2023
Jorginho of Chelsea FC. Photo: @jorginhofrello
Source: Instagram
  • Full name: Jorge Luiz Frello Filho
  • Nickname: Jorginho
  • Date of birth: 20 December 1991
  • Age: 31 years (as of March 2023)
  • Nationality: Brazilian
  • Height: 1.8 m
  • Position: Defensive and central midfield
  • Club: Chelsea FC
  • Current market value: $49 million
  • Instagram: @jorginhofrello

Brazilian Jorginho Filho of Chelsea FC is regarded as one of the world's best players owing to his tackling, passing, and scoring skills. The prolific defensive midfielder hit a 92% passing accuracy in the 21/22 season with an 89% pass completion rate.

3. Marco Veratti

best passers in the world
Marco Verratti of Paris Saint-Germain. Photo: @marco_verratti92
Source: Instagram
  • Full name: Marco Verratti Cavaliere
  • Nickname: Gufetto di Manoppello, 'the owl of Manoppello'
  • Date of birth: 5 November 1992
  • Age: 30 years (as of March 2023)
  • Nationality: Italian
  • Height: 1.65 m
  • Position (s): Central and defensive midfield
  • Club: Paris Saint Germain
  • Current market value: $61 million
  • Instagram: @marco_verratti92
  • Twitter: @Marco Verratti

Italian soccer star Marco Veratti is currently among the top players for the French club Paris Saint-Germain. He has had a 93% completion rate and a 93.25% passing accuracy rate.

2. Luka Modrić

best passers in the world
Luka Modric of Real Madrid. Photo: @ModricLuka10
Source: Facebook
  • Full name: Luka Modrić
  • Nickname: Cruyff of the Balkan
  • Date of birth: 9 September 1985
  • Age: 37 years (as of March 2023)
  • Nationality: Croatian
  • Height: 1.72 m
  • Position (s): Central and attacking midfield
  • Club: Real Madrid
  • Current market value: $11 million
  • Twitter: @lukamodric10
  • Instagram: @lukamodric10
  • Facebook: @ModricLuka10

Based on UEFA's stats, the Croatian midfielder has a passing accuracy of 92.15%. Luka Modrić also got a 90% completion rate for the 1196 passes made in the season.

1. Toni Kroos

number 1 best passer in the world
Toni Kroos of Real Madrid. Photo: @tonikroos
Source: Facebook
  • Full name: Toni Kroos
  • Nickname: Garçom "waiter."
  • Date of birth: 4 January 1990
  • Age: 33 years (as of March 2023)
  • Nationality: German
  • Height: 1.83 m
  • Position: Central midfield
  • Club: Real Madrid
  • Current market value: $27 million
  • Twitter: @ToniKroos
  • Instagram: @toni.kr8s
  • Facebook: @tonikroos

German citizen Toni Kroos is a midfielder for the top-tier La Liga club Real Madrid. Kroos tops this list of the best passers globally with a 95% pass completion rate with 92% accuracy rate. According to Besoccer's analysis, his pass accuracy has always been above 91%.

Who are the most accurate passers in football?

Below is a list of the top 15 best long passers in football in 2023:

Player

Completion rate

Accuracy rate

Toni Kroos

95%

92%

Luka Modrić

90%

93.25%

Marco Veratti

89%

93.25%

Jorginho

89%

93%

David Silva

86%

85%

Messi

86%

89%

Joshua Kimmich

87%

89.9%

Dani Parejo

87%

87.9%

James Rodriguez

84.84%

63.64%

Pedro Leon

84%

86%

Paul Pogba

83.05%

90%

Kevin De Bruyne

83%

83%

James Ward-Prowse

83%

60%

Trent Alexander- Arnold

78%

80%

Bruno Fernandes

77%

78.5%

Who is the best passer in soccer in the world?

He has a pass completion rate of 86% with an 89% accuracy rate.

Is Messi the best passer?

Messi is one of the world's best football passers. He has made over 50,000 passes, and over 348 have gone down as assists.

What position passes the most in soccer?

Although passers typically play in any position on the field, most are midfielders. The most effective pass is a direct pass or a push pass.

Who is the king of pass in football?

The best passer of all time is the Spanish player Xavi Hernandez. He is rightfully regarded World's best dribbler in football history for achieving 100% pass accuracy.

Who are the top 10 best passers in football history?

Retired players who were the best passers in football history are:

Player

Position

Years

Clubs

Xabi Alonso

Midfielder

1998-2017

Real Sociedad (2000-04), Liverpool (2004-09), Real Madrid (2009-14), Bayern Munich (2014-17)

Michel Platini

Midfielder

1972-1987

AS Nancy (1972-79), Saint Etienne (1979-82), Juventus (1979-87)

Johan Cruyff

Midfielder

1964-1985

Ajax (1964-73, 1981-83), Barcelona (1973-78), Los Angeles Aztecs (1978-79), Washington Diplomats (1979-81), Levante (1981), Feynoord (1983-84)

Roberto Carlos

Defender

1991-2016

União São João (1991-93), Palmeiras (1993-95), Inter Milan (1995-96), Real Madrid (1996-2007), Fenerbahce (2007-09), Corinthians (2010-11), Anzi Makhachkala (2011-12), Delhi Dynamos (2015)

Clarence Seedorf

Midfielder

1992-2014

Ajax (1992-95), Sampdoria (1995-96), Real Madrid (1996-99), Inter Milan (1999-2002), AC Milan (2002-12), Botafogo (2012-14)

Dennis Bergkamp

Forward/ Midfielder

1987-2006

Ajax (1986-93), Inter Milan (1993-95), Arsenal (1995-2006)

Frank Lampard

Midfielder

1995-2017

West Ham (1995-2001), Chelsea (2001-14), Manchester City (2014-15), New York City FC (2015-16)

Luis Figo

Forward

1991-2009

Sporting CP (1989-95), Barcelona (1995-2000), Real Madrid (2000-05), Inter Milan (2005-09)

David Beckham

Midfielder

1992-2013

Manchester United (1992-2003), Real Madrid (2003-07), LA Galaxy (2007-12), AC Milan (2009, 2010 on loan), Paris Saint-Germain (2013)

Steven Gerrard

Midfielder

1998-2017

Liverpool (1998-2015), LA Galaxy (2015-16)

The best passers in the world enjoy the fame and success that comes with their incredible performance on the field. It takes a lot of training, sacrifices, time, and effort to achieve great precision and accuracy in passing balls to teammates.

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Authors
Ciku Njuguna photo
Ciku Njuguna
Ciku Njuguna is a journalist with 3 year’s experience in content creation based in Kenya. She currently covers sports personnel as well as team biographies.
Peris Walubengo photo
Peris Walubengo
Peris Walubengo is a content creator with 4 years of experience in writing informational and entertainment articles, researching, editing, and proofreading.