The 14 Best Playmakers in Premier League History

From lung-busting box-to-box creators to cold-eyed deep-lying passers, this is three decades of English football's finest architects — icons who defined an era against cult heroes who ran games for a season. Who pulled the strings best? Cast your vote!

1. 1
   Kevin De Bruyne

   Manchester City's relentless creator whose 2019-20 season equalled the Premier League's single-season assist record.
   1000pts
2. 2
   Frank Lampard

   Chelsea's goal-scoring midfielder and the Premier League's highest-scoring midfielder of all time.
   584pts
3. 3
   Dennis Bergkamp

   Arsenal's sublime playmaker whose touch and vision defined the Invincibles.
   524pts
4. 4
   Juan Mata

   Two-time Chelsea Player of the Year prized for his creativity in tight spaces.
   524pts
5. 5
   Cesc Fabregas

   Arsenal and Chelsea schemer who twice topped the Premier League assist charts.
   454pts
6. 6
   David Silva

   Manchester City's silky Spaniard who unlocked defences for a decade.
   454pts
7. 7
   Mesut Ozil

   Arsenal's languid No. 10 who matched the single-season assist record in 2015-16.
   454pts
8. 8
   Gianfranco Zola

   Chelsea's diminutive magician, voted the club's greatest ever player.
   454pts
9. 9
   Steven Gerrard

   Liverpool's driving midfielder who created and scored in equal measure.
   372pts
10. 10
    Eric Cantona

    Manchester United's talismanic playmaker who inspired four titles in five years.
    371pts
11. 11
    David Beckham

    Manchester United's crossing and free-kick maestro on the right flank.
    272pts
12. 12
    Bruno Fernandes

    Manchester United's talismanic creator and penalty-box threat since 2020.
    151pts
13. 13
    Paul Scholes

    Manchester United's deep-lying orchestrator, revered for his passing range across two decades.
    151pts
14. 14
    Christian Eriksen

    Tottenham's set-piece specialist and chance-creating hub for half a decade.
    151pts