The Greatest of All Time? Messi Breaks Pelé’s Historic Record

Messi broke Pelé’s record

Four straight matches with braces

He has 35 goals in 40 games

Pelé and Messi have something in common: both changed the course of soccer in the United States.

In the 1970s, Pelé saved NY Cosmos from obscurity; today, Lionel Messi is making history with Inter Miami, dressed in pink and smashing barriers with his records.

Pelé: The Ultimate Pioneer

Pelé arrived in 1975 and played 56 official matches with the Cosmos, breaking several records:

31 goals

25 assists

3 seasons

‘O Rei’ was the star who put the NASL on the map, in a format very different from today’s MLS.

Messi Breaks Pelé’s Historic Record – PHOTO: shutterstock

Lionel Messi: Record After Record

With his brace against New England Revolution, Messi became the first player in MLS history to score a brace in four consecutive matches.

35 goals

18 assists

40 matches

All this in 16 fewer games than Pelé played.

Messi surpasses Pelé’s historic record in the U.S. Photo: EFE

Messi Breaks Historic Record and Aims for the 2026 World Cup

Since arriving after leaving PSG, Leo has transformed Inter Miami. He has scored in his last five consecutive matches of the 2025 season and will return to the field this weekend against Nashville SC.

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