As the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup kicks off at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Lionel Messi prepares to lead Inter Miami into uncharted waters. Their opening clash against Egyptian giants Al Ahly marks the club’s debut in the prestigious tournament — and for Messi, it presents a golden opportunity to etch his name even deeper into football history.
The Argentine icon has already had an electric 2025 season, notching 10 goals and 5 assists in 13 appearances. While Inter Miami may not be tournament favorites given the quality of Group A rivals — Porto, Palmeiras, and Al Ahly — Messi has several personal milestones well within reach.
Lionel Messi eyes Cristiano Ronaldo’s Club World Cup goal record
One of the most tantalizing targets for Messi in this campaign is overtaking Cristiano Ronaldo as the all-time leading scorer in the FIFA Club World Cup. Ronaldo leads the chart with seven goals, but with the Portuguese star absent from this edition, Messi — currently on five goals in five Club World Cup appearances — needs just two to claim the top spot.
If he scores in Inter Miami’s group matches, the record could fall quickly. With Al Ahly known for their high-tempo play and occasional defensive lapses, Lionel Messi could well find his breakthrough early.
Potential to become the oldest goal scorer in tournament history
Another record within Messi’s grasp is becoming the oldest player to score in the tournament’s history. At 38, Messi is older than the current record-holder Javier Zanetti, who scored at the age of 37 years, 4 months, and 5 days in 2010.
With his trademark composure and goal-scoring instinct still intact, Messi could take this milestone if he finds the back of the net in the opening game.
Climbing the assist leaderboard
Though goals remain his primary metric, Messi’s vision and playmaking have long been elite. In the Club World Cup, he currently has one assist to his name — four shy of the record jointly held by Neri Cardozo and Shoma Doi, who each boast five.
With at least three guaranteed matches in the group stage, Lionel Messi will need to produce at a higher-than-usual rate. However, if his MLS form — where he averages an assist every 204.9 minutes — carries into the tournament, the record is within striking distance.
Chasing the combined goals and assists record
Perhaps the most significant milestone is the record for most combined goals and assists in Club World Cup history. Once again, it’s Cristiano Ronaldo who leads with 10. Messi, with six total contributions so far, needs four more to equal that figure.
Given his all-round attacking influence and Inter Miami’s offensive setup under coach Javier Mascherano, Messi stands a strong chance of chasing down this elite mark.
A legacy in the making
Despite Inter Miami being newcomers to the global stage, Lionel Messi remains the central figure in this narrative. Whether he’s scoring screamers or threading through game-changing assists, every moment he creates brings him closer to rewriting football’s record books — yet again.
Mascherano, speaking ahead of the opener, summed it up best: “We may be debutants as a club, but with Messi on the pitch, anything is possible.”