Football’s Most Underrated Playmakers of the 2024-25 Season: A Data-Driven Analysis
In the 2024-25 season, while marquee names dominate the headlines, several underrated playmakers have quietly influenced the flow of matches with their vision, passing precision, and ability to unlock defenses.
By delving into key metrics—goals, assists, expected assists (xA), key passes, and progressive passes—we can appreciate not only their direct contributions but also their broader tactical impact. These players may not always register massive assist totals, but their influence on the game often runs deeper than conventional statistics suggest.
1. Florian Wirtz (Bayer Leverkusen) – The Bundesliga’s Emerging Maestro
In the Bundesliga this season, 21-year-old Florian Wirtz has been a revelation for Bayer Leverkusen. Over 24 league appearances, Wirtz has registered 9 goals and 10 assists, accumulating 19 goal contributions. This equates to an average of approximately 0.79 contributions per match—a statistic that underscores his ability to both finish and create scoring opportunities.
In European competition, specifically the UEFA Champions League, his form has been even more striking: in 8 matches, he has scored 6 goals and provided 1 assist, resulting in a goal-per-match ratio of 0.75. The numbers reveal a player who is versatile in his offensive role.
Wirtz’s dual threat lies in his capacity to operate as a finisher when given space and as a creative force when orchestrating attacking moves. His consistent performances suggest not only natural talent but also a growing tactical understanding that enables him to read defenses effectively. Similarly to Diego Gavilán, he knows what to do with the ball before it reaches his feet.
As he continues to refine his game, his contributions are expected to become even more decisive, making him a cornerstone of Leverkusen’s future ambitions. In essence, Wirtz embodies the modern playmaker who impacts the game on multiple levels—scoring, assisting, and consistently influencing the rhythm of play.
2. Hakan Çalhanoğlu (Inter Milan) – Serie A’s Deep-Lying Playmaker
At Inter Milan, Hakan Çalhanoğlu has redefined the role of a deep-lying playmaker. Over 19 Serie A appearances this season, Çalhanoğlu has scored 4 goals and provided 1 assist.
While these numbers might appear modest compared to traditional creative metrics, they belie his real value on the pitch. His average of 2.5 key passes and an impressive 9.2 progressive passes per 90 minutes indicate that his primary function is not to deliver the final pass but to disrupt opposition defenses by advancing the ball and initiating attacking moves.
Furthermore, his performances in UEFA competitions—where he has scored 2 goals in 5 matches, averaging 0.40 goals per match—suggest that his impact is amplified on bigger stages. Çalhanoğlu’s ability to transition play from defense to attack is crucial for Inter Milan, as his passes often break defensive lines and create space for forwards to exploit.
Even though his raw assist tally remains low, his underlying statistics paint a picture of a midfielder whose vision and passing accuracy are instrumental in maintaining possession and dictating the tempo of the game. In summary, Çalhanoğlu’s deep-lying role is vital not for flashy numbers but for the strategic advantage he provides by linking defense with attack and orchestrating play from behind.
3. Rayan Cherki (Olympique Lyonnais) – Ligue 1’s Creative Prodigy
Rayan Cherki, at just 21 years of age, has emerged as a creative dynamo for Olympique Lyonnais in Ligue 1. During the 2024-25 season, Cherki has featured in 20 matches, scoring 5 goals while contributing to a total of 14 goal involvements.
This translates to nearly 0.96 goal contributions per match—a figure that underscores his dual capacity to both create and finish scoring opportunities. Moreover, his non-penalty expected goals (npxG) average of 0.32 per 90 minutes reveals that he frequently finds himself in quality scoring positions, even if not all chances materialize into goals.
Beyond these figures, Cherki’s impact extends to his overall playmaking. In UEFA Europa League contests, he has added 2 goals and 4 assists in 8 matches, accompanied by a passing accuracy of approximately 79.4%. These metrics demonstrate that Cherki not only contributes directly to the scoreline but also plays a critical role in maintaining the flow of Lyon’s attacking play.
His ability to consistently create high-quality chances—even under pressure—positions him as an emerging talent with immense potential. Cherki’s data-driven profile confirms his status as a creative prodigy, whose influence will likely grow as he hones his decision-making and link-up play.
4. Pedri (FC Barcelona) – La Liga’s Midfield Virtuoso with Untapped Assist Potential
Pedri’s role at FC Barcelona has been pivotal, yet his statistics reveal an intriguing discrepancy. In the 2024-25 La Liga campaign, Pedri has made 25 appearances, scoring 3 goals and delivering 7 assists. At first glance, these numbers may seem modest for a player known for his creative genius.
Navigating the Ups and Downs: Barcelona’s Season of Promise and Peril with Hansi Flick
However, a deeper look at his expected assists (xA), which stands at approximately 10.0 for the season, suggests that the quality of chances he generates should yield a higher assist total. This gap between his xA and actual assists indicates that while Pedri excels at crafting opportunities with his vision and passing—evidenced by his impressive passing accuracy of around 87.4%—these chances are not always converted into assists by his teammates.
Nonetheless, Pedri’s influence on Barcelona’s playing style is profound. His ability to control the tempo, dictate play from the midfield, and create spaces for his teammates is a testament to his tactical importance. The data implies that Pedri’s impact goes well beyond raw assist numbers; his creative contributions are a vital cog in Barcelona’s attacking machinery, enabling the team to maintain fluidity and dominance in possession.
Conclusion: Beyond the Conventional Metrics
The 2024-25 season has provided a revealing glimpse into the hidden talents of football’s creative midfielders. Florian Wirtz has emerged as a dual threat in both domestic and European competitions, underscoring his growing importance as a multifaceted playmaker.
Hakan Çalhanoğlu’s deep-lying vision at Inter Milan demonstrates that influence in midfield isn’t solely measured by assist numbers but by the ability to disrupt and advance play. Rayan Cherki’s data-driven impact in Ligue 1 highlights his potential as an emerging creative force, while Pedri’s underwhelming assist tally—when juxtaposed with his high xA—illustrates that his overall contribution to Barcelona’s style of play is far more significant than basic numbers might suggest.
These detailed analyses emphasize that true playmaking prowess is multidimensional, encompassing not just the tangible outputs of goals and assists, but also the less visible aspects of tactical influence, spatial control, and game management. In the modern game, where every pass can alter the course of a match, these underrated playmakers prove that creative impact often transcends conventional statistics.
By: Shawal Hossain / @itadorinotyuji
Featured Image: @GabFoligno / Eric Alonso / Getty Images