Lionel Messi Shatters MLS Record as Inter Miami Storms to Another Victory

Lionel Messi has once again made history, continuing to cement his legacy as the greatest footballer to ever play the game.

During Inter Miami's 4–2 victory against Toronto FC on Saturday, the iconic forward netted one goal and contributed two assists, claiming Player of the Match honors. More notably, he shattered Sebastian Giovinco's record to become the fastest player in MLS history to accumulate 100 regular-season goal contributions, achieving the milestone in just 64 appearances—31 fewer than the 95 matches Giovinco required.

Messi departed BMO Field with a tally of 59 goals and 41 assists since joining the South Florida club in 2023.

One of one. 🐐 pic.twitter.com/GF7Y8P9o8t

Since making his MLS debut, Messi has taken the league by storm, even as he enters the latter stages of his career. The 38-year-old stands as the only player to have claimed the MLS MVP award in back-to-back seasons (2024 and 2025).

The eight-time Ballon d'Or recipient also holds the record for the most goal contributions in a single season—spanning both regular and postseason matches—with 62 contributions in 2024–2025, eclipsing LAFC's Carlos Vela's previous mark of 52 set in 2019. Messi additionally owns the record for the most goal contributions in a single postseason with 15 last winter: six goals and nine assists, an achievement he accomplished on the way to leading the Herons to their first-ever MLS Cup title.

Messi also holds the record for the most assists in a single MLS match: five against the New York Red Bulls in May 2024, the very same game in which he scored a goal to secure the record for most goal contributions in a single match as well (six). Inter Miami claimed that historic contest 6–2.

The former FC Barcelona icon now boasts 907 total career goals, becoming only the second player in history to surpass the 900-goal mark when he scored against Nashville SC in Concacaf Champions Cup action back in March. Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo was the first to reach 900 career goals, doing so in 2024, and is well on his way to the 1,000-goal milestone.