Explained in plain English
Why are assists important?
Assists are crucial because they highlight a player's contribution to goal-scoring beyond just netting the ball themselves. While Mbappe leads in goals, Messi's assist count could be a tie-breaker for the Golden Boot, showing his playmaking skill. It recognises the team effort and strategic passing that often leads to a goal.
Stories that explain this
Mbappe leads Golden Boot race with 10 goals before World Cup finalQuestions this opens up
How do tie-breakers work? Who tracks assists? Are assists always passes?This explainer came from a news story
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