In Fort Lauderdale, Lionel Messi didn’t need to score to make headlines — he simply passed his way into history.
The Argentina captain provided two assists in a 6-0 thrashing of Puerto Rico, taking his international tally to 60 assists, the most ever in men’s international football.
With that, Messi moved ahead of Neymar (58) and Landon Donovan (58) on the all-time list, proving that age might slow legs but never footballing vision.
It’s yet another page added to the ever-growing Messi folklore — this time not for goals, but for the art of the assist.
The 38-year-old playmaker, who turns chances into goals as naturally as most people breathe, set up Alexis Mac Allister and Lautaro Martínez, both of whom grabbed a brace.
Argentina’s other goals came from Gonzalo Montiel and a Steven Echevarria own goal, sealing another dominant performance for La Albiceleste on American soil.
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When did Lionel Messi scored his first assist for Argentina?
Messi’s first assist for Argentina came way back in 2006 — also in a 6-0 win, against Serbia and Montenegro at the World Cup.
Nineteen years later, the story repeated itself, only this time it came with a record attached. Apparently, history really does enjoy a good sense of symmetry.
While Neymar fans might not be thrilled, Messi’s creative consistency has been unmatched. He’s now only two assists shy of 400 total assists in his professional career — a number that could make even top midfielders blush.
Most assists in International Football
| Rank | Player | Country | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1️⃣ | Lionel Messi | Argentina | 60 |
| 2️⃣ | Neymar Jr. | Brazil | 58 |
| 3️⃣ | Landon Donovan | USA | 58 |
| 4️⃣ | Ferenc Puskás | Hungary | 53 |
| 5️⃣ | Kevin De Bruyne | Belgium | 52 |
After the match, Mac Allister shared a laugh with reporters:
“The guys were joking at halftime, asking if I was going to score three goals. I’ve never done that, but I’m not desperate either.”
Lautaro Martínez added,
“I’m happy to score; it’s always special with this shirt.”
Messi, meanwhile, quietly returned to Inter Miami duties, preparing for another MLS clash this weekend.
Another day, another record — and another reminder that when Messi’s around, you might as well keep your stat books open.
Lionel Messi news and related links
- Alisha Lehmann’s response to Messi vs Ronaldo GOAT question goes viral
- Zlatan Ibrahimovic reveals his all-time top three – do Messi and Ronaldo make the cut?