Football history witnessed another extraordinary chapter when Lionel Messi officially became the player with the most assists in the sport’s history. The Argentine maestro reached the remarkable milestone of 405 career assists during Inter Miami’s commanding 5-1 victory over New York City FC in the MLS Cup Eastern Conference final on Saturday, November 29, 2025, surpassing Hungarian legend Ferenc Puskas who held the previous record with 404 assists.
The record-breaking moment came in the 67th minute at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, when Messi received a volley pass from Jordi Alba with his back to goal. The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner executed a brilliant turn and threaded a perfectly weighted pass toward teammate Mateo Silvetti, who finished confidently into the bottom corner to make it 3-1. That assist not only helped secure Inter Miami’s progression to their first-ever MLS Cup final but also cemented Messi’s place atop football’s all-time assists chart.
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The Historic Achievement That Redefines Greatness
With 896 goals and 405 assists throughout his career, Messi now holds the highest goal contributions total in football history Punch, reaching an unprecedented 1,301 combined goals and assists across 1,136 career appearances. This extraordinary achievement underscores his status not merely as a prolific goalscorer but as football’s greatest creative force and complete attacking player.
The significance of this record cannot be overstated. While many legendary players have excelled either as goalscorers or playmakers, Messi has simultaneously dominated both categories at the highest level for nearly two decades. His ability to create chances for teammates with the same consistency and brilliance as his goalscoring prowess sets him apart from every player in the sport’s history.
Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano, who played alongside Messi for both Barcelona and Argentina, captured the magnitude of the achievement perfectly after the Eastern Conference final victory. The former defensive midfielder praised his captain’s extraordinary vision and creativity, noting that Messi provided peace of mind with the third goal through an assist that only he could see and execute.
| Rank | Player | Country | Total Assists |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lionel Messi | Argentina | 405 |
| 2 | Ferenc Puskás | Hungary | 404 |
| 3 | Pelé | Brazil | 369 |
| 4 | Diego Maradona | Argentina | 317 |
| 5 | Thomas Müller | Germany | 315 |
Ferenc Puskas: The Legend Messi Surpassed
Ferenc Puskas held the all-time assists record with 404 throughout his illustrious career spanning 719 appearances. The Hungarian forward, known as the “Galloping Major,” was one of football’s first true superstars and remains one of the greatest players ever to grace the sport. He scored an astounding 708 goals to accompany his 404 assists, averaging approximately 1.5 goal contributions per match throughout his career.
Puskas led Hungary’s iconic “Mighty Magyars” team to the 1954 World Cup final and won the Olympic gold medal in 1952. After the Hungarian Revolution in 1956, he defected to Spain and joined Real Madrid at age 31, where he formed a lethal partnership with Alfredo Di Stefano. During his eight years at the Santiago Bernabeu, Puskas won three European Cups and five La Liga titles while establishing himself as one of the most complete forwards in football history.
The Hungarian legend’s powerful left foot and exceptional vision made him equally dangerous as both scorer and creator. FIFA honored his legacy by naming their annual award for the most beautiful goal the “FIFA Puskas Award,” recognizing his impact on the beautiful game. For decades, his 404 assists stood as the benchmark for creative excellence in football until Messi surpassed him in late November 2025.
The Road to 405: Messi’s Journey to the Summit
Lionel Messi’s path to becoming football’s all-time assists leader began at Barcelona’s famed La Masia academy, where his exceptional vision and passing ability were evident from his teenage years. After making his first-team debut in 2004 at just 17 years old, Messi gradually developed from a talented winger into the most complete attacking player the sport has ever seen.
During his legendary 21-year tenure at Barcelona from 2004 to 2021, Messi provided 269 assists in all competitions, forming devastating partnerships with some of football’s greatest strikers. His telepathic understanding with Luis Suarez and Neymar during the “MSN” era produced some of Barcelona’s most memorable moments, while his earlier combinations with Samuel Eto’o, Thierry Henry, and David Villa showcased his versatility as a creator.
At Paris Saint-Germain from 2021 to 2023, Messi added another dimension to his playmaking repertoire despite playing in a different league and tactical system. He recorded 35 assists during his two seasons in France, demonstrating his ability to adapt his creative game to new environments and teammates.
Since joining Inter Miami in July 2023, Messi has continued his remarkable productivity. In the 2025 MLS season alone, he has registered 24 assists from 48 appearances across all competitions, including playoffs. His impact transformed Inter Miami from a struggling franchise into MLS Cup finalists, with his creative genius unlocking defenses and elevating teammates’ performances week after week.
International Excellence: Creating for Argentina
Messi’s assist record includes his phenomenal contributions for the Argentina national team, where he has provided crucial assists during the nation’s most important tournaments. Throughout his international career, he has recorded assists in seven different Copa America tournaments and five FIFA World Cups, becoming the only player to achieve such sustained creative output across multiple generations of international football.
During Argentina’s triumphant 2022 FIFA World Cup campaign in Qatar, Messi provided three assists en route to lifting the trophy. His ability to create goals in the tournament’s biggest moments, including crucial assists in knockout rounds, proved instrumental in Argentina’s success. He followed that achievement with continued excellence at Copa America 2024, where he added another assist to his growing international tally while helping Argentina defend their continental title.
In 2025, Messi also became the top assist provider in men’s international football history with 61 assists, surpassing Brazil’s Neymar. This achievement came during a friendly match against Puerto Rico, where he recorded two assists to break yet another long-standing record. His international assists record demonstrates his consistent excellence across two decades representing Argentina.
The 2025 MLS Season: A Campaign of Historic Proportions
The 2025 MLS season has been one of the most productive of Messi’s remarkable career. Beyond his record-breaking 405th assist, he became the fastest player to reach 40 league goals in MLS history and finished the regular season winning the MLS Golden Boot as the league’s top scorer with 29 goals and 19 assists in just 28 matches.
Messi’s performances throughout the season defied his age of 38 years, with his vision, passing accuracy, and decision-making remaining at elite levels. During one memorable playoff performance against FC Cincinnati, he recorded three assists in a single match, demonstrating the same creative brilliance that defined his Barcelona prime years.
The Argentine captain’s influence extends beyond statistics. His presence transformed Inter Miami into a global brand, attracting celebrity spectators to matches and generating unprecedented interest in MLS worldwide. Tennis star Carlos Alcaraz attended the Eastern Conference final to watch Messi, while members of the U.S. women’s national team were also present to witness history being made.
The Complete Forward: Goals and Assists Combined
What makes Messi’s assist record even more extraordinary is the context of his goal-scoring achievements. While surpassing Puskas in assists, Messi has also scored 896 career goals, placing him among the highest scorers in football history. This combination of elite goalscoring and unparalleled creativity sets him apart from every player who has played the game.
Throughout his career, Messi has been the top scorer and top assist provider in the same season on multiple occasions, a feat that highlights his two-way attacking excellence. During the 2017-18, 2018-19, and 2019-20 La Liga seasons, he led the league in both categories simultaneously, demonstrating complete dominance over Spanish football’s attacking statistics.
His 1,301 total goal contributions represent an average of approximately 1.15 goal contributions per match throughout his entire professional career. This consistency across nearly 1,140 appearances speaks to his durability, professionalism, and sustained excellence at the highest level for almost two decades.
Playmaking Brilliance: What Makes Messi Different
Messi’s assists are not merely the product of volume but represent artistic brilliance in playmaking. His assists catalog includes virtually every type of creative pass imaginable: delicate through balls splitting defenses, perfectly weighted crosses, clever back-heels, audacious chips, and defense-splitting long balls that cover 40 or 50 yards with precision.
What distinguishes Messi’s playmaking is his ability to see passing lanes that other players cannot perceive. His low center of gravity, exceptional close control, and 360-degree vision allow him to manipulate defenses before delivering the decisive pass. He frequently draws multiple defenders toward himself before releasing teammates into space with perfectly timed assists.
His left foot possesses extraordinary precision, capable of delivering passes with varying weights, spins, and trajectories depending on the situation. Whether threading a pass through a crowded penalty area or switching play with a diagonal ball, Messi’s technical execution remains flawless even under intense defensive pressure.
The Inter Miami Effect: Creating in America
Messi’s arrival at Inter Miami in July 2023 represented a landmark moment for Major League Soccer. While many European stars have concluded their careers in MLS, few have maintained Messi’s level of performance and productivity. His 24 assists during the 2025 season rank among the highest single-season totals in MLS history, proving that his creative abilities remain elite despite playing in the latter stages of his career.
His partnerships with former Barcelona teammates Luis Suarez, Jordi Alba, and Sergio Busquets have brought European tactical sophistication to MLS. The chemistry developed over years at Barcelona translates seamlessly to American fields, with Messi’s assists frequently coming from intricate passing combinations reminiscent of Barcelona’s golden era.
The Eastern Conference final victory that produced his record-breaking 405th assist epitomized Inter Miami’s transformation under Messi’s leadership. Tadeo Allende scored a hat-trick with assists from Alba and Busquets on his first two goals, while Messi set up Silvetti for the historic third. The 5-1 demolition showcased the quality and understanding that Messi and his veteran teammates bring to MLS.
Looking Ahead: The MLS Cup Final
With his contract extension through 2028, Messi will continue adding to his assist record. Inter Miami will face Vancouver Whitecaps FC in the MLS Cup final on December 6, 2025, at their home stadium in Fort Lauderdale. The match represents Inter Miami’s first-ever appearance in MLS’s championship game, with the franchise having failed to advance past the opening playoff round in its first five seasons before Messi’s arrival.
Vancouver presents a formidable challenge, having defeated Inter Miami twice earlier in the season, including both legs of a CONCACAF Champions Cup semifinal by a 5-1 aggregate score. The Whitecaps are led by German legend Thomas Muller, who himself ranks among football’s all-time assists leaders with over 315 career assists.
Regardless of the final’s outcome, Messi’s legacy as football’s greatest playmaker is secure. His 405 assists, combined with his goal-scoring exploits and trophy collection, cement his claim as the most complete player in the sport’s history. At 38 years old, he continues defying expectations and rewriting record books with performances that blend technical brilliance, tactical intelligence, and an enduring passion for creating moments of magic.
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FAQs
How many assists does Lionel Messi have in his career?
Lionel Messi has recorded 405 official assists throughout his professional career across all competitions for club and country. He achieved this milestone on November 29, 2025, during Inter Miami’s 5-1 victory over New York City FC in the MLS Eastern Conference final, when he assisted Mateo Silvetti’s goal in the 67th minute. This surpassed Ferenc Puskas’s previous record of 404 assists.
Who held the assists record before Lionel Messi?
Hungarian legend Ferenc Puskas held the all-time assists record with 404 assists before Messi surpassed him. Puskas recorded his 404 assists over 719 career appearances while playing for Kispest, Budapest Honved, and Real Madrid, as well as representing Hungary’s national team. He also scored 708 goals during his career, making him one of football’s most complete forwards. The FIFA Puskas Award for the year’s best goal is named in his honor.
How many total goal contributions does Lionel Messi have?
Lionel Messi has 1,301 total goal contributions in his professional career, consisting of 896 goals and 405 assists across 1,136 appearances. This represents the highest goal contribution total in football history, averaging approximately 1.15 goal contributions per match throughout his entire career spanning from 2004 to present. These contributions include his performances for Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, Inter Miami, and the Argentina national team.
What other assist records does Lionel Messi hold?
Beyond being football’s all-time assists leader, Messi holds the record for most assists in men’s international football history with 61 assists for Argentina. He also holds records for most assists at the FIFA World Cup (8) and Copa America (18), and is the only player to provide at least one assist in five different World Cup tournaments and seven different Copa America tournaments. Additionally, he recorded the most assists in a single MLS playoff game with five.
At what age did Lionel Messi break the all-time assists record?
Lionel Messi broke the all-time assists record at 38 years old during the 2025 MLS season while playing for Inter Miami. Despite his age, Messi has maintained elite creative output, recording 24 assists during the 2025 campaign across 48 appearances in all competitions. His longevity and sustained excellence at the highest level distinguish him from other legendary players, as he continues performing at world-class standards nearly two decades into his professional career.
