Unified world heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk has taken to social media to explain the ‘real reason’ why his controversial bout with kickboxing legend Rico Verhoeven was so close.

The Ukrainian hero emerged with an 11th round stoppage victory in the pair’s bout on Saturday night, which took place directly in front of the Pyramids of Giza in northern Egypt. However, his victory wasn’t without controversy.

Verhoeven stunned the boxing world by producing a sublime performance to push Usyk hard throughout the opening 10 rounds. Most felt that the 37-year-old held a clear lead heading into the championship rounds, although the official judges’ scorecards were far closer than some expected.

The Dutch striker refused to let Usyk settle into the fight, with his constant aggression catching the eye. For a fighter competing in just his second sanctioned boxing match, it was an incredible effort.

The Controversial Ending of Usyk vs Verhoeven

Verhoeven’s impressive performance made the manner in which he was stopped all the more frustrating. Usyk dropped his opponent towards the end of the 11th round, but it looked as though Rico was going to survive and see the end of the round.

However, he was denied the chance to get back to his corner as referee Mark Lyson called a halt to the contest, despite the fact Verhoeven looked to be intelligently defending himself. Even more heartbreakingly for Rico, footage later emerged showing that the official had actually stopped the fight after the end of the round.

Although Usyk managed to successfully defend his WBC Heavyweight Championship, he was arguably given the hardest fight of his career by Verhoeven in a twist that few saw coming ahead of the bout.

Oleksandr Usyk’s Tweet on His Performance vs Rico Verhoeven

Posting on Twitter/X on Sunday morning, Usyk offered a cheeky explanation for his under-par performance. The 39-year-old declared:

“They say it was tense watching my fight with Rico. Guys, I just didn’t want you to be bored, come on.”

While Usyk was happy to poke fun at his close shave, Verhoeven was far from amused with the outcome of the fight. The Dutchman was unhappy with both the stoppage and the scorecards of the ringside judges, but kept things respectful in a post-bout statement on social media.

Two judges had the fight level at 95-95, with the third having it 96-94 to Verhoeven at the time the action was halted.

Saudi Arabian boxing powerbroker Turki Alalshikh has demanded that Usyk face Verhoeven again to settle the controversy. If they do rematch, the Ukrainian will likely need to show far more than he did on Saturday night to get the job done.

With over 30 years of history, the Premier League has been the home of some of the best players in the world across every position imaginable.

From unbeatable goalkeepers to undeniable strikers, towering defenders to ferocious full-backs, players in their prime have travelled to England to prove they truly are elite.

That extends to the playmakers, the creative forces behind almost every goal, the mavericks who can break a game open in the blink of an eye.

Thierry Henry, Bruno Fernandes, and Kevin De Bruyne, to name a few, have lit up the Premier League and got fans off their seats with their ingenuity and spontaneous quality.

So, with that said, we have listed and ranked the 20 best creative players in Premier League history, based on several key factors.

Ranking Factors

We have determined the order based on the following:

• Premier League assists
• General ability to create chances for teammates
• How exciting they were to watch

Top 11-20 Creative Premier League Players

10

Wayne Rooney

Wayne Rooney is fondly remembered as one of the best players to grace the Premier League, breaking through as a wonderkid and sticking around through his peak for a Manchester United side that won relentlessly.

As a youngster, the England international played with an aggression and spontaneity that caught many by surprise, while he progressed in a different way as he grew into his role at Old Trafford.

Over time, Rooney dropped to a slightly deeper role with an impressive passing range that would help set up plenty of goals for his teammates.

While the former striker had plenty of quality, he would occasionally be overshadowed by those around him, not always being the main man despite his ability.

9

Trent Alexander-Arnold

Trent Alexander-Arnold is a unique talent who took the Premier League by storm and made the public rethink what it really means to play as a full-back.

The Liverpool academy graduate may not have been the most secure defender, but his ability on the ball made him a valuable player in Jurgen Klopp’s team.

Alexander-Arnold was capable of playing long diagonals that would almost be a cheat code for the Reds, especially in transition with the pace of Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane.

When the right-back was high up the pitch, he was capable of swinging in some impressive crosses from open play and set-pieces, bringing a different dimension to Liverpool out wide.

8

Bruno Fernandes

Manchester United have had some lean years since the exit of Sir Alex Ferguson, but one of the shining lights through that time has been Bruno Fernandes.

The playmaker joined from Sporting CP back in 2020, and has taken on a role as chief creator and club captain, becoming a key player during his stay at Old Trafford.

There have been plenty of moments of creativity, whether it’s from open play with little flicks and through balls, or from set-pieces and crossing opportunities.

The Portugal international broke the Premier League assist tally for one season in 2025/26, landing 21 assists for Man United in a season they landed third place in.

7

Thierry Henry

Thierry Henry was a devastating forward in his time at Arsenal, and while plenty of focus will be on the brilliant goals he scored, the Frenchman was able to do much more than just finish off chances.

With pace and trickery in spades, the left-winger could do things with the ball that many wouldn’t dream of, and defenders certainly couldn’t handle it.

In the Premier League, Henry set the record for the most assists in a season with 20, while his quality extended well beyond pure output in front of goal.

You only need to hear how players describe the former Arsenal man to understand just how good he was during his time in the division.

6

Mesut Ozil

Another Arsenal star is on the list in the form of Mesut Ozil, who was well known for the way he could manipulate the ball to create opportunities for his teammates.

The playmaker joined the Gunners from Real Madrid in 2013, and spent many of his peak years at the Emirates Stadium getting fans off their seats.

Ozil became synonymous for the “Ozil bounce”, a skill that saw him capable of bouncing the ball from a flat position, simply by stamping on it with the side of his boot.

There were plenty of creative finishes too, which included a few cheeky chips over the hands of flailing opposition goalkeepers.

5

David Silva

David Silva will be remembered as a Premier League legend from the 2010s, spending ten years at Manchester City, helping them on their rise towards glory.

The Spanish midfielder was often called “El Mago”, also known as a “Magician” for the way he could create out of thin air for the Sky Blues over the years.

Silva’s assist record speaks for itself, landing over 100 in just over 300 appearances, while he eventually moved further back in the midfield as he got older.

Pep Guardiola praised the star’s ability to change tempo in the game, playing it at his own pace and creating when he wants, rather than being dragged into the pace of the rest of the team.

4

Dennis Bergkamp

Dennis Bergkamp‘s 11 years at Arsenal were well-decorated with trophies and assists, as he took the Premier League by storm in moving to England.

The Dutchman had instant chemistry in the frontline with many of his strike partners, particularly Henry, creating plenty of opportunities whenever called upon.

One standout may well be Bergkamp’s goal against Newcastle in 2002, with a touch, turn, and finish that would make any forward in the world proud.

He is one of the gold standards for playmakers in the Premier League, and an act that has been hard to top in the years that have followed.

3

Cesc Fabregas

Over two spells in the Premier League, Cesc Fabregas helped provide plenty of quality and creativity at different stages in his career.

As a youngster, the Spaniard broke onto the scene for Arsenal and took the division by storm with plenty of flair and freedom to try audacious things.

When he returned to the Premier League with rivals Chelsea, Fabregas was a seasoned and experienced star who was capable of playing in a deeper role as well as pushing forward.

Having featured in both roles, the midfielder was creative with his final ball and in his ability to start attacks by building out from the back in a way that made him unstoppable in many different phases.

2

Ryan Giggs

Ryan Giggs was a stalwart of the Premier League, an ever-present for Manchester United, and always chipping in with assists when it really matters.

The Welshman is top of the assist charts in division history, while his longevity was impressive as the league continued to morph and change around him.

While there are players who will have a better games-to-assists ratio, Giggs was able to make the position in the Man United team his own through his sheer creativity.

1

Kevin De Bruyne

Kevin De Bruyne‘s early career at Chelsea was forgettable, but his later stint at Manchester City may be one of the most career-defining runs in Premier League history.

The playmaker was unstoppable, with Pep Guardiola using him to break games wide open, while circulating possession around him for the majority of the time.

De Bruyne could see passes that seemed impossible, and even when his powers were waning later in his time with City, he still provided a key threat.

From being viewed as a Chelsea flop to being one of the most influential players in the division’s history, there will be few who could challenge De Bruyne for the crown of being the most creative player in the league’s history.

Stats via Premier League – correct as of 24/05/26

Manchester United are seemingly in the market for a left-back this summer, and have been given a boost in their pursuit of one star, according to reports.

The Red Devils need to balance the workload of the Champions League, on top of the Premier League, FA Cup, and EFL Cup, which will place greater stress on the depth within the squad.

While Luke Shaw has impressed this campaign, there are clear concerns over whether he will be able to handle the stress of playing twice a week, given his previous injury issues.

It means that, even though there is an emphasis on improving the midfield ranks, there is a focus on left-back as an area to bolster, with a boost for one star who could be the long-term successor to Shaw.

Man United Boost For Nathaniel Brown Deal

Among the options who have been linked with the Manchester United left-back position is Nathaniel Brown, the Eintracht Frankfurt star who has impressed in the Bundesliga once again this season.

While the Red Devils have shown interest, so have Bayern Munich, who recently sealed the double with the Bundesliga title and the DFB Pokal for this season.

The Bavarian club often rule the roost when it comes to picking up the best talent in Germany, but Christian Falk reports that the champions are not “actively” pursuing a deal as things stand.

It’s claimed that there is interest from Bayern, but with a deal that could be in excess of £60.5 million, there is less active interest in the 22-year-old.

That could give Manchester United a clear run at landing the German international, who will join up with his national team for the World Cup in the next week or so.

Ahead of that time in North America, United have been clearly told why Brown would be a top option to be the long-term successor to Shaw.

Why Brown Would Work For Manchester United

Nathaniel Brown would be an interesting left-back option for Manchester United, having comfortably shown his ability to attack, as well as defend.

The defender has featured as a wing-back, as well as a midfielder and a right-back in his time in professional football, with plenty of potential to grow in his best position.

Germany national team head coach Julian Nagelsmann outlined his praise for Brown when he said: “He brings a lot to the table, has great dynamism, is very fast, very creative, has good composure on the ball, and is increasingly developing a leadership mentality.

“During a difficult period, he was the player in Frankfurt, among those in contention for the national team, who consistently delivered the most reliable performances over a long period. He was very, very consistent.”

That consistency is what Manchester United needs from a young player who could take a starting left-back role over Shaw in the coming seasons.

It remains to be seen if he is the target the club goes for, but he certainly has the quality to be that in the future, at Old Trafford or elsewhere.