Messi surpasses Neymar as top assist maker in international football

Lionel Messi wrote yet another memorable chapter in his journey with the Argentina national team. This Tuesday, the great number 10 became the player with the most assists in the history of international football, reaching the milestone of 59 assists.

The record was set at Chase Stadium, his home stadium with Inter Miami , during Argentina's friendly with Puerto Rico.

The historic assist happened in the first half, when Messi found Gonzalo Montiel free in the box, in a play built with his usual brilliance.

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This achievement cements Messi not only as one of the greatest goal scorers of his generation, but also as a unique playmaker, combining precision, vision, and tactical intelligence.

With 59 assists, Messi surpasses former midfielder Landon Donovan, who played professionally for the United States national team from 2000 to 2014 and had 58 assists, as well as Neymar (58).

With the 2026 World Cup approaching, expectations around Messi’s performance are rising. After winning the title in 2022, in Qatar, the star is looking to end his international career with yet another grand achievement.

If statistics serve as a thermometer, the Argentine number 10 still has much to offer. And with every decisive pass, he reaffirms his status as a living legend of world football.

– Wednesday, 15 October 2025

Overall, Lionel Messi has 397 assists in 1,129 matches.

Check out the Top 10 greatest "assist providers" in international football

– Wednesday, 15 October 2025

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This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.

📸 Carmen Mandato - 2025 Getty Images