Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo Set New Records On Same Weekend

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Football icons Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have once again written their names into the game’s history books, each setting a new milestone for their respective country within the same weekend.

Messi starred in Argentina’s emphatic 6-0 win over Puerto Rico in a friendly, providing two assists that pushed him past a remarkable career milestone.

Those two contributions took his assist tally for Argentina to 60, breaking the all-time international record of 58 previously shared by Brazil’s Neymar and the United States legend Landon Donovan.

The achievement means Messi now holds the record for the most assists ever made for a national team in football history. Across his professional career, the 37-year-old has now recorded an astonishing 398 assists.

While Messi was setting a new benchmark for creativity, his long-time rival Cristiano Ronaldo continued to rewrite the record books on the goalscoring front.

The Portuguese captain scored twice as Portugal were held to a 2-2 draw by Hungary in a World Cup qualifier. The result delayed their chance to confirm qualification for the 2026 tournament.

Despite the frustration of conceding a stoppage-time equaliser to Liverpool midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai, Ronaldo’s brace ensured his name stood alone atop the list of all-time World Cup qualifying scorers.

Ronaldo, now 40, has found the net 41 times in World Cup qualifying matches, surpassing the previous record of 39 goals set by former Guatemala striker Carlos Ruiz.

With the draw, Portugal remain five points clear at the top of Group F with two matches left. They can still secure their ticket to the 2026 World Cup when they face the Republic of Ireland in Dublin on November 13.