Lionel Messi ended 2024 in a perfect way, after creating the goal that gave Argentina a 1-0 win over Peru in the 12th round of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
Messi wasn’t the main hero of the goal, as it was Lautaro Martinez’s fantastic finish that really caught the eye.
ميسي يصنع ولاوتارو من لمسة 🔥
مارتينيز يسجل الهدف الأول للأرجنتين 🇦🇷⚽الأرجنتين 1 × 0 بيرو#تصفيات_أمريكا_الجنوبية #الأرجنتين_بيرو | #SSC pic.twitter.com/rYz0h544tO
— SSC (@ssc_sports) November 20, 2024
But this decisive pass is historic by all standards for the flea, as it made him the player with the most assists in the history of national teams with 58 assists, equal to America legend Donovan.
Messi is also the player with the most assists in club football with 379, noting that his total goal contributions through scoring or assisting throughout his career reached 1229.
In 2024, Messi played 39 matches with Inter Miami and Argentina, during which he contributed 47 goals, 29 goals and 18 assists in all competitions, and won the Supporters’ Shield with his American club.
At the same time, Lautaro’s legendary finishing was of particular value to him, as it made him advance in the ranking of the historical scorers of the Argentine national team.
Messi remains Argentina’s top scorer with 112 goals, far behind the closest competitor Gabriel Batistuta with 56 goals, while Lautaro surpassed Gonzalo Higuain and Angel Di Maria and became sixth with 32 goals.
It is noteworthy that Argentina’s victory confirmed its lead in the South American qualifiers with 25 points, 5 points ahead of the closest pursuer, Uruguay.
