Lionel Messi continues to rewrite football history. The Argentine maestro became the all-time leader in international assists during Argentina’s 6-0 win over Puerto Rico at Chase Stadium. Notably, the friendly match was initially scheduled for Chicago but relocated to Miami due to low ticket sales. The match turned into a celebration of Messi’s genius as Argentina’s talisman orchestrated another dominant display.
The Argentina captain delivered a masterclass in playmaking, registering two assists to surpass Neymar’s record of 59, taking his tally to 60 assists for his country. Wearing the armband and starting despite a hectic club schedule, Messi showed no signs of fatigue. In the 14th minute, his curling effort struck the crossbar and the ball eventually went towards Alexis Mac Allister, who headed home the opener.
Just nine minutes later, Messi produced a trademark defense-splitting pass for Gonzalo Montiel, who finished with precision to double Argentina’s advantage. Argentina dominated proceedings throughout the night. Mac Allister struck again in the 36th minute to make it 3-0 at half-time, while Puerto Rico’s Steven Echevarria turned the ball into his own net in the 64th minute.
Lautaro Martinez came off the bench in the second half and completed the rout with two late goals. Martinez’s second goal in the 84th minute was assisted by Messi and it secured Messi’s record-breaking moment. The win underlined Argentina’s attacking depth, with contributions across the field. Mac Allister’s brace and substitute Martinez’s double highlighted the squad’s balance. Despite pre-match concerns about fatigue after his recent Inter Miami exploits, Messi appeared at his fluent best.
In total, the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner now boasts 397 assists in 1,129 career appearances for club and country, leaving him just three shy of the 400 mark. His two assists against Puerto Rico cemented his status as the greatest creator in football history.
Also Read: Cristiano Ronaldo Creates History: Becomes All-Time Top Scorer in World Cup Qualifiers
| Player | Team | Matches | Goals | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lionel Messi | Argentina | 195 | 114 | 60 |
| Neymar | Brazil | 128 | 79 | 59 |
| Landon Donovan | USA | 157 | 57 | 58 |
| Ferenc Puskas | Hungary | 85 | 84 | 53 |
| Kevin De Bruyne | Belgium | 115 | 36 | 53 |
| Sandor Kocsis | Hungary | 68 | 75 | 50 |
| Pele | Brazil | 92 | 77 | 47 |
| Thomas Muller | Germany | 131 | 45 | 41 |
| Luis Suarez | Uruguay | 143 | 69 | 39 |
| Cristiano Ronaldo | Portugal | 225 | 143 | 37 |
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