Lionel Messi and a half century of perfect 10s: no one else comes close

Lionel Messi has reached yet another landmark in a career filled with them. Sofascore awarded the Inter Miami captain a perfect 10 rating for his display in Wednesday night’s 4-0 win over New York City FC – the 50th time in their database that Messi has achieved the highest possible score. It’s like the number on his back since 2008 has been there for a reason.

Messi vs NYC

The 38-year-old produced a vintage performance, scoring twice, assisting another and creating three big chances in a dominant 90 minutes. His passing accuracy (42 of 52) and constant involvement across the pitch underlined why the analysts deemed it relatively flawless.

How does Messi compare?

Sofascore ratings are compiled from Opta data and used to evaluate players across world football. Achieving one perfect 10 is rare; reaching 50 sets Messi apart.

Neymar and Maxime Lestienne are next closest in the rankings with 18 apiece, while Kylian Mbappé (17), Cristiano Ronaldo (13) and Harry Kane (13) trail well behind.

Who has Messi been ‘perfect’ against?

Messi’s ‘perfect 10s’ have come in a remarkable variety of settings: LaLiga Clásicos with Barcelona against bitter rivals Real Madrid, Champions League knockout ties, internationals with Argentina – including their run to the 2022 World Cup triumph – and now Major League Soccer.

The list of vanquished opponents stretches from Arsenal to Bayern Munich to Manchester City, underlining the breadth of his dominance. Take a look.

For Inter Miami, his latest display was another reminder of how decisive he remains, even if not now at the top table of league competition. Nearly two decades after his professional debut, Messi is still rewriting the standards by which attacking players are judged.

Sofascore’s milestone only quantifies what fans have witnessed for years: when he is on song, perfection feels routine.For many, the conversation over the Beautiful Game’s GOAT is long decided.

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