Ranking the 15 Statistically Best Passers in Europe This Season

David Ramos/Getty Images

As we pass the midway point of the 2012-13 season, it is time to reflect on the players from Europe's top five leagues who lead the way in passing statistics.

You'll find all the usual suspects here—Xavi, Mikel Arteta and Andrea Pirlo—and a few surprises thrown in, too.

The Top 15 are ranked purely based on statistics from three categories: passes per game, pass completion percentage and assists.

Naturally, forwards and midfielders are given the edge over defenders, who usually lead certain fields based on the fact that they regularly make the easy passes out from the back, as opposed to those who attempt splitting through the ball.

As always, this list is intended to spark debate, rather than end it. I believe it was Gerard Pique's squeeze Shakira who famously once sung, "stats don't lie."

(All statistics via WhoScored.com)

15. Xabi Alonso

Denis Doyle/Getty Images

Club: Real Madrid

Passes per game: 70.6

Pass Completion: 82.5%

Assists: 2

Real Madrid's expert holding midfielder Xabi Alonso kicks us off in 15th place, though one feels that if it weren't for his club's patchy start to the season, the Spaniard would be ranked higher.

Alonso is one of the leading La Liga players in terms of passes attempted but may be disappointed not to be more on par with his peers in the other categories.

14. Juan Mata

Julian Finney/Getty Images

Club: Chelsea

Passes per game: 52.3

Pass Completion: 86.2%

Assists: 7

Another Spaniard, Juan Mata has been key to the Blues' fortunes this term, racking up the assists and goals from his attacking midfield position.

His importance to the team was highlighted on Wednesday, when his exclusion from the starting lineup led to a home defeat to a QPR side rooted to the bottom of the Premier League table.

13. Maxime Gonalons

Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images

Club: Olympique Lyonnais

Passes per game: 68.6

Pass Completion: 88.6%

Assists: 0

Take away a recent loss to big spending PSG, and French side Lyon have been in decent form this season.

Maxime Gonalons has been a consistent force in central midfield, making the task of dictating the flow of his team's play look easy.

12. Neven Subotic

Denis Doyle/Getty Images

Club: Borussia Dortmund

Passes per game: 70.6

Pass Completion: 84.5%

Assists: 0

As one of Europe's nouveau elite clubs, Borussia Dortmund have attracted attention from across the continent for their attractive style of football and consistent excellence.

One of the Bundesliga side's top talents is defender Neven Subotic, who possesses fine technical ability for a player of his position.

11. Philipp Lahm

EuroFootball/Getty Images

Club: Bayern Munich

Passes per game: 63.6

Pass Completion: 89.1%

Assists: 4

As Bayern Munich captain and possibly the best right-back in world football, Philipp Lahm is a worthy inclusion on most "best" lists in football.

His passing has been in top form this season—his pass completion percentage easily in the elite group of Europe's premier players.

10. Steven Gerrard

Scott Heavey/Getty Images

Club: Liverpool

Passes per game: 65.3

Pass Completion: 86.2%

Assists: 8

Stevie G may be having a bit of an up-and-down season in Merseyside, but his passing numbers don't reflect the fact.

Not only has he completed a high percentage of his passes, he has also racked up eight assists and is in the Top Five across the continent in the category.

9. Marco Verratti

Claudio Villa/Getty Images

Club: Paris Saint-Germain

Passes per game: 49.5

Pass Completion: 89.4%

Assists: 3

Perhaps one of the biggest breakout stars of 2012 was Italian midfielder Marco Verratti, who lit up both the Ligue 1 and the Champions League with his effervescent play.

His numbers against Europe's top sides in the latter competition are no worse than his domestic ones—63.7 passes per game with 89 percent completion success.

8. Borja Valero

Marco Luzzani/Getty Images

Club: Fiorentina

Passes per game: 59.9

Pass Completion: 85.7%

Assists: 8

An unsung hero of European football this season, Borja Valero has made a real home at Serie A side Fiorentina since moving from relegated Villarreal in the summer.

The playmaker leads the premier Italian division in assists, as the Viola currently sit in an impressive fifth place, one point off from a Champions League spot.

7. Michael Carrick

Julian Finney/Getty Images

Club: Manchester United

Passes per game: 82.5

Pass Completion: 88.4%

Assists: 4

It may have taken Michael Carrick a while, but he is finally starting to hit top form for the Premier League's pace-setting Manchester United.

The likes of Robin van Persie and Wayne Rooney may get most of the plaudits, but the holding midfielder's stats speak for themselves.

6. Franck Ribery

Manuel Queimadelos Alonso/Getty Images

Club: Bayern Munich

Passes per game: 60.3

Pass Completion: 87%

Assists: 7

Love him or hate him, there's no denying Franck Ribery's pure talent. The winger brings terrific creativity to Bayern Munich's play, to go with his pace and trickery.

The Frenchman leads the Bundesliga in key passes made per game (3.6) and is eighth in passes per game and 16th in pass completion percentage.

5. Cesc Fabregas

David Ramos/Getty Images

Club: Barcelona

Passes per game: 69.1

Pass Completion: 88.9%

Assists: 9

If you had thought it odd that no Barcelona player had cracked the list yet, rest assured, Blaugrana fans. Cesc Fabregas isn't the only player for the La Liga club to feature.

The former Arsenal man has become a key member of the Spanish giants' lineup, forming a devastating central midfield alongside Xavi and Sergio Busquets.

4. Mikel Arteta

Clive Mason/Getty Images

Club: Arsenal

Passes per game: 85.1

Pass Completion: 92.6%

Assists: 2

Of all the players on this list, Arsenal's Mikel Arteta ranks behind only Xavi in terms of pass completion percentage and passes completed per game.

Though the Gunners' form has been dodgy this term, to say the least, Arteta is a consistent mainstay in holding midfield and a virtually undroppable player for boss Arsene Wenger.

3. Andres Iniesta

David Ramos/Getty Images

Club: Barcelona

Passes per game: 66.5

Pass Completion: 90%

Assists: 10

Injury may currently be hampering Andres Iniesta's season, but that hasn't stopped him from racking up more assists than any of his peers in any of Europe's top five leagues.

The attacking midfielder is fast becoming the fashionable choice to win FIFA's Ballon d'Or for 2012, a result that would see him upstage teammate Lionel Messi and Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo.

2. Andrea Pirlo

Claudio Villa/Getty Images

Club: Juventus

Passes per game: 81.3

Pass Completion: 87.3%

Assists: 3

What can one say about Juventus' Andrea Pirlo that hasn't already been said? How about "genius?"

The holding midfielder is a true quarterback of the game, running the show from a deep position with exquisite distribution and a typical Italian style. He has only improved with age.

1. Xavi

Victor Fraile/Getty Images

Club: Barcelona

Passes per game: 102.1

Pass Completion: 95.3%

Assists: 4

For a modern-day footballer to average over 100 passes a game and then complete over 95% of said passes is quite extraordinary.

But that's Xavi: Barca's free-wheeling playmaker, whose current form suggests he is by no means slowing down, despite having hit the wrong side of 30 a couple of years ago.

 

Forget the numbers. Who do you think has impressed with their passing this season?

Follow @MaxBentleyTowle