"Lionel Messi became the player with the most assists in international football as he set up his Argentina team-mates twice in their 6-0 rout of Puerto Rico in a friendly. Messi, who missed Argentina's previous triumph against Venezuela to play for Inter Miami, returned to the Albiceleste with a bang at Chase Stadium. Argentina took the lead in the 14th minute when Alexis Mac Allister headed Nico Gonzalez's bouncing cross home after Messi had rattled the crossbar just seconds earlier."
"Lionel Scaloni's side went further clear nine minutes later through Gonzalo Montiel, who picked out the bottom-left corner with a volley following Messi's delicate chip into the box. Mac Allister then put the result beyond doubt before half-time, calmly slotting the ball beyond Sebastian Cutler after being set up by Jose Lopez inside the penalty area. Argentina's dominance continued after the break, but they had to wait until the 64th minute to get their fourth when Steven Echevarria diverted Gonzalez's shot into his own net."
"And after being introduced into the action just after the hour, Inter's Lautaro Martinez helped himself to two goals late on, with both coming within five minutes of each other. Martinez opened his account with a simple finish over Cutler before completing his brace with a curling effort into the bottom-right corner after collecting Messi's clever backheel."
Lionel Messi returned to the Argentina lineup and provided two assists in a 6-0 friendly victory over Puerto Rico at Chase Stadium. Argentina opened when Alexis Mac Allister headed Nico Gonzalez's cross home after Messi hit the crossbar. Gonzalo Montiel scored following Messi's chip, and Mac Allister added a second before half-time. Steven Echevarria diverted a Gonzalez shot into his own net for the fourth. Lautaro Martinez, introduced after the hour, scored twice late, the second after collecting Messi's backheel. The two assists raised Messi's international assist total to 60, surpassing Neymar's previous record of 59.
Read at Soccer News
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