Argentina continued their push for a place at the next FIFA World Cup with Lionel Messi playing an important role in the victory over Peru.
Lionel Messi matched the record for the most assists in international football history when he set up Argentina’s winning goal against Peru on Tuesday night.
The Inter Miami playmaker drove into the Peru defence before lifting the ball into the middle of the visitors’ box, where Lautaro Martinez met it with a brilliant overhead kick to give the Albiceleste a 1-0 victory.
While Messi matched Donovan’s record of 58 assist, Martinez equalled Diego Maradona’s goal tally of 32 for the national team.
Messi is now level with United States men’s national team legend Landon Donovan for the most assists at senior international level, 10 years after the American attacker retired.
Argentina’s victory in Buenos Aires will be Messi’s last competitive match in 2024, and the victory moves his side five points clear at the top of the CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying table.
With Inter Miami already knocked out of the MLS playoffs when they went down 3-2 to Atlanta United, Messi will begin his holiday and will not play a competitive football until 2025.
