Messi Surpasses Neymar to Become All-Time International Assist Leader
As if responding to his eternal rival Cristiano Ronaldo — who recently broke the all-time goal record in international qualifiers — Lionel Messi has once again written his name into football history.
The Argentina legend became the all-time leader in international assists after registering two more in a 6-0 friendly win over Puerto Rico. The 38-year-old provided his 59th and 60th assists for the national team, overtaking Neymar, who previously held the record with 59.
While Neymar’s international career continues, albeit hampered by injuries and inconsistency, Messi remains a model of longevity and elite performance. In total, the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner has now played 194 matches for Argentina, scoring 114 goals and now providing a record-breaking number of assists.
With Argentina already qualified for the FIFA World Cup 2026, Messi and his teammates are gearing up to defend their title, won in dramatic fashion in Qatar four years ago.
Watch how Messi broke Neymar’s assist record below:
