Lionel Messi wrote another golden page in his career by matching the world record for assists, reaching 404 during Inter Miami's 4-0 win over Cincinnati. At 38 years old, the Argentine captain equaled the mark set by the legendary Ferenc Puskas and also celebrated his 896th goal in 1,135 professional matches, a figure that reflects his enduring presence and influence in MLS.
The match played on Sunday was practically a monologue by the Rosario native, who was involved in all four of his team's goals. In the 19th minute, he started the play for the first goal by setting up Mateo Silvetti and finished the action himself with a header. In the second half, Messi became the absolute playmaker: he assisted Silvetti again in the 57th minute and then delivered two pinpoint passes to Tadeo Allende, in the 62nd and 74th minutes, to secure qualification for the Eastern Conference final.
The three assists he recorded brought him to 404 in his career, matching Puskas's historic record. Meanwhile, according to Opta data, Messi is just four goals away from 900, with a distribution that highlights his journey: 77 with Inter Miami, 32 with PSG, 672 with Barcelona, and 115 with the Argentina National Team.
So far in the 2025 season, the star has maintained a relentless pace. He has 46 goals, was the top scorer in the MLS regular season, and contributed to 23 goals in his last 10 matches, including goals and assists. In addition, he already has six goals in the postseason, serving as the central figure in Inter Miami's current success.
