Hazard, Ozil, De Bruyne, Messi: Top 10 Players With Most Chances Created Since 2014

• Eden Hazard has created the most chances in Europe's top five leagues over the last 10 years
• The Belgian winger retired from football this year after an injury-plagued spell at Real Madrid
• The top 10 list of chance-makers features the likes of Mesut Ozil, Neymar Jr and Lionel Messi

A new set of statistics has revealed that Eden Hazard is the player with the most chances created in Europe's top five leagues for the last 10 years.

The statistic is interesting, given that he barely played at Real Madrid before deciding to retire on October 10 this year.

Hazard terrorised Premier League defences for seven years while at Chelsea, but his move to the Spanish capital in 2019 did not turn out as expected.

A series of fitness issues saw him make just 54 appearances in La Liga for Los Blancos. But despite this, the Belgian still leads the list of players with the most chances created since 2014.

Erling Haaland goals: 12 of the best goals by The Terminator

Football

Opta Joe calculated the figures per 90 for players who made more than 100 league appearances in that duration. Hazard's magic and industry saw him claim 62 man-of-the-match awards in the Premier League - more than any other player - even without necessarily having a goal involvement, according to One Football.

What are 'chances created'

A chance created, according to Soccer Statistically, is defined as all the assists and key passes a player provided during said period. A key pass is a pass a player lays out to a teammate who shoots and gets an attempt at goal without scoring.

Bayern Munich's old boy, Thomas Muller ranks second on the list, with Kevin De Bruyne rounding off the top three. De Bruyne, who has always been referred to as the 'assist king,' sits fifth on the Premier League's all-time list of most assists.

Surprisingly, Lionel Messi, who is often credited with being one of the most creative players the world has ever seen, is only eighth on the list. The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner is beaten by the likes of Mesut Ozil and Neymar.

The Karim Benzema story: From being banned from the France national team to winning the Ballon d'Or

Football

Players with most chances created in the last 10 years

Worst finishers in Europe's top leagues

The race for top honours in different leagues is already in full flow. Early season contenders have already emerged with a few surprise packages competing with the 'big boys,' like Girona in Spain.

Last season's top scorer and the recipient of the Gerd Muller Award, Erling Haaland has also continued from where he left off. Harry Kane has also settled well as has his compatriot, Jude Bellingham.

But as Sports Brief previously reported, there are strikers who should probably have better scoring tallies than what they currently have as they lead the worst finishers list in European top leagues.