Football legends Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have once again etched their names deeper into football history, each achieving remarkable milestones for their respective countries over the same weekend.
In Argentina’s dominant 6-0 victory over Puerto Rico in a friendly match, Messi was in vintage form — providing two assists that propelled him to yet another historic record.
Those assists took the Argentine captain’s tally to 60 assists for his national team, surpassing the previous all-time international record of 58, which was jointly held by Brazil’s Neymar and U.S. soccer icon Landon Donovan.
This new milestone means Messi now holds the record for the most assists in international football history. The 37-year-old has also amassed an incredible 398 assists across his professional career — a testament to his enduring creativity and vision on the pitch.
Meanwhile, Messi’s long-time rival Cristiano Ronaldo continued to extend his dominance on the goalscoring front.
The Portuguese captain scored twice in Portugal’s 2-2 draw with Hungary during a World Cup qualifier — a result that delayed their chance to seal qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Despite the setback of conceding a stoppage-time equalizer to Hungary’s Dominik Szoboszlai, Ronaldo’s brace saw him claim the record as the all-time leading scorer in World Cup qualifying history.
At 40 years old, Ronaldo has now scored 41 goals in World Cup qualifiers, surpassing the previous record of 39 goals set by former Guatemala striker Carlos Ruiz.
Portugal remain five points clear at the top of Group F, with two matches left to play. They can officially secure qualification when they face the Republic of Ireland in Dublin on November 13.
Top 10 All-Time Leading Scorers in World Cup Qualifiers
- Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) – 41 goals
- Carlos Ruiz (Guatemala) – 39 goals
- Lionel Messi (Argentina) – 36 goals
- Ali Daei (Iran) – 35 goals
- Robert Lewandowski (Poland) – 33 goals
Two decades on, Messi and Ronaldo continue to redefine football greatness — proving that even in their late 30s and early 40s, their rivalry remains the sport’s most extraordinary story.
