MLS
Messi breaks MLS game assist record: who held it before him?
The 8-time Ballon d’Or winner broke another record in football as he orchestrated a 6-2 win over NYRB in MLS.
Lionel Messi, despite being almost 37 years of age, still shines on a football pitch. The ex-Barça forward, now at Inter Miami in MLS, continues to add to his legend.
In match day 12 of MLS 2024, Messi racked up an astonishing 5 assists in 6-2 win against New York Red Bulls, setting an all-time record in the domestic competition.
As well as his five assists, Messi also got his name on the scoresheet, putting him at the top of the goalscoring charts.
Who held the MLS game assist record before Messi?
Messi’s five assists all came in the second half, setting both a new single-game record for assists and for most assists in a half. Adding his goal into the equation, Messi also set a league record for goal contributions in a single game with six.
Previous single-game assist record holders (4):
- Carlos Valderrama | TB 08/30/1997 vs. NE | W 4-0
- Chris Henderson | KC 06/20/1999 vs. MET | W 6-0
- Dwayne De Rosario | HOU 04/02/2006 vs. COL | W 5-2
- Landon Donovan | LA 08/12/2012 at CHV | W 4-0
- Lee Nguyen | NE 09/02/2017 vs. ORL | W 4-0
- Yimmi Chara | POR 10/28/2020 vs. LA | W 5-2
- Leo Chu | SEA 03/25/2023 at KC | W 4-1
What was Messi’s previous single-game assist record?
Messi also broke his previous single-game assist record, which stood at three.
Who has more assists, Messi or Ronaldo?
According to stats treasure trove, FBREF, in 22 season across 5 clubs, the Portuguese forward has accumulated a total of 197 assists. As for the Argentine wizard, he has a total of 291 assists across 21 seasons with 3 clubs.
Messi has now recorded 10 goals and 12 assists in eight appearances this year. Inter Miami’s next game is against CF Montreal which will be played at Saputo Stadium next Sunday.
As for the all-time MLS goalscoring record, that accolade is held by Chris Wondolowski, who put away 171 goals across 16 seasons in the league. That sort of number will be beyond even Lionel Messi, but the single-season record could well be within reach. The record for most goals in an MLS season is held by Carlos Vela, who scored 34 goals in 31 regular season matches in 2019.
Landon Donovan holds the all-time MLS assist record with a total of 136. The single-season record is held by Colombian legend Carlos Valderrama, who set the MLS assist record back in 2000, when he provided 26 goals for his teammates. At 10 goals and 12 assists so far this season, Messi certainly has these two numbers in his sights.