Lionel Messi Sets New All-Time Record With 405 Career Assists
Lionel Messi has set a new all-time assist record with 405 career assists in official matches for club and country. The 38-year-old Argentine broke Ferenc Puskás’ long-standing mark during Inter Miami’s 5–1 win over New York City FC in the MLS Cup semifinal. Arguably, this further strengthens his case as the most complete attacking player in football history.
Assists Records In Football
New record: 405 career assists, the most in football history.
Record-breaking moment: Assist for Mateo Silvetti in Inter Miami’s 5–1 win over New York City FC in the MLS Cup semifinal on 30 November 2025.
Previous record holder: Ferenc Puskás, with 404 career assists.
Total goal contributions: 896 goals and 405 assists, giving Messi 1,301 goal contributions in official matches, the most in history.
Top 3 all-time Assist Providers:
1. Lionel Messi – 405
2. Ferenc Puskás – 404
3. Pelé – 369
How Lionel Messi Reached 405 Assists
Messi’s historic assist came in familiar fashion. In the MLS Cup semifinal, Messi picked up the ball in attacking space and slipped a precise pass into the path of young forward Mateo Silvetti, who finished to make it 5 – 1 for Inter Miami against New York City FC. That simple, perfectly timed pass was his 405th official assist and pushed him clear at the top of the all-time list.
Lionel Messi had already drawn level with Hungary legend Ferenc Puskás on 404 assists a week earlier, after a dominant performance in the Eastern Conference run. His latest contribution not only broke the record but also helped Miami clinch the Eastern Conference title and secure a place in the MLS Cup final against Vancouver.
The numbers highlight how long Messi has been operating at the very top. According to multiple statistical sources, his 405 assists are spread across Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, Inter Miami and the Argentina national team, covering more than two decades of elite football.
Messi Is The Most Complete Playmaker In Football History
Usually, assists are often harder to measure than goals, but modern tracking has made the picture clearer. Based on Opta-style criteria, which exclude heavily deflected passes, penalties and own goals, Messi now holds the outright record for most recorded assists with 405.
Messi also sits at the top for:
- Most official goal contributions overall: 1,301
- Most international assists: 61 for Argentina
That means Messi is not only one of the greatest scorers in history but also the most productive creator. The updated ranking of players with the most career assists puts him ahead of some of the sport’s most iconic names:
- Lionel Messi – 405
- Ferenc Puskás – 404
- Pelé – 369
- Johan Cruyff – 358
- Thomas Müller – 352
For many fans and football analysts, this strengthens the argument that Messi is the most complete attacking player the game has ever seen.
What This Record Means For Messi’s Legacy
At 38, Messi continues to collect team trophies and individual records. His move to Inter Miami has not slowed him down. He has already won silverware in MLS and now has the chance to lift the MLS Cup after guiding Miami into the final.
On top of his assist record, Messi’s career honours remain unmatched: multiple league titles, four UEFA Champions League trophies, the 2022 FIFA World Cup, two Copa América titles and a record eight Ballon d’Or awards.
The 405-assist mark fits into a wider story. It shows a player who has evolved from a direct winger into a master playmaker, able to control the tempo of a match and decide games with a pass as easily as with a shot. It also underlines his longevity. Very few players stay decisive at the top level for so long.
