Argentina captain Lionel Messi added another historic milestone to his illustrious career on a night of goal-scoring dominance, setting a new record for the most assists in men's international football.
In a commanding 6–0 win over Puerto Rico on Friday, Messi registered two assists, bringing his total to 60 and surpassing Brazil's Neymar and the USA's Landon Donovan, both previously tied at 58.
The match, held at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida — home ground of Messi’s club Inter Miami — marked the final game of Argentina’s U.S. tour. While Messi did not find the net himself, his creative brilliance was on full display.
He set up Alexis Mac Allister and Lautaro Martínez, each of whom went on to score twice. The other two goals came from a Gonzalo Montiel strike and an own goal by Puerto Rico.
With these two assists, Messi now sits just three shy of the 400-assist mark across his professional career, having tallied 397 assists in 1,129 appearances to date. His first international assist came more than 19 years ago, during the 2006 FIFA World Cup against Serbia and Montenegro.
Widely celebrated as one of the greatest goalscorers in football history, Messi's vision, intelligence, and playmaking flair have long cemented his status as an elite creator. His contribution in Friday’s friendly was no exception. Early in the first half, he delivered a signature precision pass inside the box to Montiel to open the scoring. Later, a clever backheel pass unlocked the defence for Martínez to notch his second of the night — both moments underscoring the Argentine’s unrivalled tactical acumen and passing range.
Third in the latest FIFA world rankings, Argentina were dominant throughout the match against Puerto Rico, who are ranked 155th and fielded several collegiate-level players. Despite an early missed opportunity from Puerto Rico’s Leandro Antonetti, the Albiceleste controlled proceedings from start to finish. Goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez was called into action just once, producing a fine save from a long-range effort to preserve Argentina’s clean sheet.
With the 2026 FIFA World Cup on the horizon, expectations surrounding Messi remain sky-high. After capturing football’s most coveted trophy in Qatar in 2022, speculation continues to swirl that the 36-year-old is targeting one final crowning achievement before concluding his international career.
Messi is now set to return to club duties, with Inter Miami scheduled to face Nashville SC in Major League Soccer on Sunday.
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