Messi Becomes Top Assist Maker in International Football

In a dazzling display of playmaking brilliance, Lionel Messi etched another chapter in football history by becoming the all-time leader in international assists. In Argentina’s 6‑0 rout of Puerto Rico, the 38-year-old icon provided two assists, taking his total to 60—surpassing both Neymar and Landon Donovan on the all-time list.

Historic Symmetry: From 2006 to 2025

• Interestingly, Messi’s first-ever assist for Argentina came in 2006, also in a 6‑0 win, against Serbia and Montenegro at the FIFA World Cup.
• Nineteen years later, in an identical scoreline, he broke the record—illustrating the poetic symmetry in his career.

The Numbers Behind the Record

Here are the current standings for most assists in men’s international football,

• 1. Lionel Messi (Argentina) – 60 assists
• 2. Neymar Jr. (Brazil) – 58 assists
• 3. Landon Donovan (USA) – 58 assists
• 4. Ferenc Puskás (Hungary) – 53 assists
• 5. Kevin De Bruyne (Belgium) – 52 assists

Messi is now just two assists shy of 400 in his overall professional career, a staggering number more commonly associated with elite midfielders.

Important Static Takeaways

• Most international assists in men’s football: 60, held by Lionel Messi
• Messi’s first Argentina assist: 2006 vs Serbia and Montenegro
• Latest assists: vs Puerto Rico in October 2025
• Age: Messi is 38 years old