Lionel Messi assisted striker Lautaro Martinez for a dazzling goal in Argentina's surprisingly tight 1-0 victory over Peru on Tuesday.
The victory sent La Albiceleste five points clear atop South American World Cup qualifying through five games. The assist was Messi's 58th for his nation, tying former USMNT legend Landon Donovan for the most by in men's international history. The American midfielder needed only 157 caps for his mark while Messi's cross on Tuesday came in his 190th appearance.
The Argentine winger deftly dribbled through three Peruvian defenders in the corner of the 18-yard box before softly lobbing a pass towards Martinez near the penalty spot. The Inter Milan forward easily separated from his defender before elevating off the ground to meet the ball, rising to strike home a powerful sideways scissor kick.
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Messi can pass Donovan's mark against either Uruguay or Brazil when CONMEBOL World Cup Qualifying returns during the next international break in March.
Donovan featured in three World Cups for the USMNT (2002, 2006, 2010), leading his nation to the quarterfinals for the first time in a generation.
Domestically, he racked up an impressive 13 MLS All-Star appearances and four MLS Cup victories. Donovan was named US Soccer Athlete of the Year four times and is widely hailed as the greatest American to ever play the sport.
Neymar ranks third in the all-time international assists list with 57 followed by Ferenc Puskas with 53 and Sandor Kocsis with 50. Puskas and Kocsis both starred for Hungary in the 1950s and 1960s – their assist tallies are estimates and should be considered unofficial.
Messi also ranks second in men's history with 112 international goals, though he has a lot of work to catch Portuguese forward and longtime rival Cristiano Ronaldo with 133.
Despite winning both the 2021 and 2024 Copa Americas in addition to the 2024 World Cup, the Inter Miami winger looks poised to remain with the national team through the 2026 World Cup in the United States. He'll turn 39 during the tournament.
Argentina should have no problem qualifying – six South American teams will automatically reach the field with another guaranteed a spot in the inter-continental playoffs. La Albiceleste are 13 points clear of eighth-place Venezuela.
Martinez played a key part in the 2024 Copa America win – he took home the tournament's Golden Boot. The Inter Milan star is a two-time Serie A winner fresh off the league's 2024 MVP Award.
The Argentina striker has rattled off three straight 20+ goal seasons in the league and will look to lead the line at the next World Cup of his nation. He struggled for game time in Qatar 2022 but redeemed himself with a penalty conversion in the final.
