“With Argentina under pressure to ignite their Copa América campaign, Messi breaks Uruguay’s resistance at 0–0 by threading a precise early cross that pulls the defence out of shape and gifts Guido Rodríguez the space to head in, marking career assist number 311.”
At 0–0 in a Copa América semi-final against the United States, Messi threads an early killer pass that slices open the defence and springs Lavezzi free to break the deadlock, a trademark vision-soaked assist that pushes his season tally towards the 50-goal benchmark.
With Inter Miami pegged back at 1–1 in an MLS Cup knockout tie, Messi threads the decisive pass that slices Atlanta open and restores the lead, a late‑career masterclass in timing and vision capped as assist number 378 of his career and 17th of the season.