Lionel Messi's first full season in Major League Soccer quickly turned into a record-breaking campaign as all-time marks have started to fall seemingly on a weekly basis, and now he is at it in the Copa America with Argentina too.
The 37-year-old legend has been scoring goals at will for Inter Miami, leading the Herons full steam ahead towards a challenge for the Eastern Conference title and Supporters' Shield.
Meanwhile, Messi continues to lead the Argentina national team towards an attempt to defend their Copa America title, with the 2024 summer tournament being held in the United States.
The Sporting News brings you a complete look at the numbers behind Messi's exceptional 2024 season with both Inter Miami and Argentina as the goals and assists continue to flow.
MORE: See the full updated MLS top goal scorers list as Lionel Messi leads the Golden Boot rankings
Lionel Messi last goal for Inter Miami
Messi's last goal for Inter Miami came in a disappointing 3-1 home defeat to Atlanta United.
Collecting a pass from Sergio Busquets, Messi took a touch before firing a low shot into the right-hand corner of the net from just outside the penalty area.
MESSI GOALS ARE INEVITABLE 🐐
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) May 30, 2024
Leo strikes for his 11th goal of the season! pic.twitter.com/FDsu4RZMYm
It was his 11th league goal of the season, but it proved to be in vain. Two goals from Saba Lobzhanidze had already put Atlanta 2-0 up, and Jamal Thiare scored 11 minutes after Messi's strike to secure a 3-1 victory.
All Lionel Messi goals for Inter Miami in 2024 season
Lionel Messi exploded into the 2024 season with a bang, scoring in seven straight league games through April and May, while also leading the club into its first-ever continental appearance.
While the CONCACAF Champions Cup journey ended in the quarterfinals at the hands of a quality Monterrey side, Inter Miami are in contention for the MLS title near the top of the Eastern Conference table.
| Date | Competition | Match | Goals | Min | Score on goal |
| Feb. 25 | Major League Soccer | LA Galaxy 1-1 Inter Miami | 1 | 90+2' | 1-1 |
| Mar. 2 | Major League Soccer | Inter Miami 5-0 Orlando City | 2 | 57', 62' | 4-0, 5-0 |
| Mar. 7 | CONCACAF Champions Cup | Nashville SC 2-2 Inter Miami | 1 | 52' | 2-1 |
| Mar. 13 | CONCACAF Champions Cup | Inter Miami 3-1 Nashville SC | 1 | 23' | 2-0 |
| Apr. 6 | Major League Soccer | Inter Miami 2-2 Colorado | 1 | 57' | 1-1 |
| Apr. 13 | Major League Soccer | Sporting KC 2-3 Inter Miami | 1 | 51' | 1-2 |
| Apr. 20 | Major League Soccer | Inter Miami 3-1 Nashville SC | 2 | 11', 81' | 1-1, 3-1 |
| Apr. 27 | Major League Soccer | New England 1-4 Inter Miami | 2 | 32', 68' | 1-1, 1-2 |
| May 4 | Major League Soccer | Inter Miami 6-2 NY Red Bulls | 1 | 50' | 3-1 |
| May 29 | Major League Soccer | Inter Miami 1-3 Atlanta United | 1 | 62' | 1-2 |
| June 1 | Major League Soccer | Inter Miami 3-3 St. Louis City | 1 | 25' | 1-1 |
| TOTAL | 14 |
All Lionel Messi assists for Inter Miami in 2023/24 season
While Lionel Messi's goal-scoring ability is what makes him one of the greatest ever, his equally exquisite creativity adds massively to his superstar career.
Messi set an MLS record for assists in a single league match by registering an incredible five assists in a 6-2 win over the New York Red Bulls on May 4, and of course he scored the other goal himself.
Something to note: Major League Soccer gives credit for second assists, which are not recognized globally as assists, and therefore are not noted here. For example, Leo Afonso's goal against the Colorado Rapids on April 6 is logged as an assist to Messi by MLS, even though he passed it to David Ruiz who then registered the final pass.
| Date | Competition | Match | Assists | Goalscorer |
| Feb. 21 | Major League Soccer | Inter Miami 2-0 Real Salt Lake | 2 | Robert Taylor (39'), Diego Gomez (83') |
| Mar. 7 | CONCACAF Champions Cup | Inter Miami 3-1 Nashville SC | 1 | Luis Suarez (8') |
| Apr. 10 | CONCACAF Champions Cup | Monterrey 3-1 Inter Miami | 1 | Diego Gomez (86') |
| Apr. 13 | Major League Soccer | Sporting KC 2-3 Inter Miami | 1 | Diego Gomez (18') |
| Apr. 20 | Major League Soccer | Inter Miami 3-1 Nashville SC | 1 | Sergio Busquets (39') |
| Apr. 27 | Major League Soccer | New England 1-4 Inter Miami | 1 | Luis Suarez (89') |
| May 4 | Major League Soccer | Inter Miami 6-2 NY Red Bulls | 5 | Matias Rojas (48', 62') Luis Suarez (69', 76', 81') |
| TOTAL | 12 |
Lionel Messi goals, assists, stats for Inter Miami in 2024
Lionel Messi is in contention for the MLS lead in both goals and assists thanks to a monstrous start to the 2024 season.
The only reason he isn't far-and-away in front of the leaderboard is his two-week injury layoff through April, otherwise he would be well in the clear.
| Season | Competition | Games | Goals | Assists | Mins |
| 2024 | Major League Soccer | 12 | 12 | 9 | 1,034 |
| 2024 | CONCACAF Champions Cup | 3 | 2 | 2 | 230 |
| 2024 | Leagues Cup | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| TOTAL | 15 | 14 | 11 | 1084 |
Lionel Messi goals, assists, stats for Argentina in 2024
Lionel Messi has finally taken the field for Argentina, and is leading their charge at the 2024 Copa America ahead of the final.
The World Cup-winning star was injured for Argentina's first few games of the year, suffering a hamstring injury while with Inter Miami that kept him out of March friendlies against El Salvador and Costa Rica.
However, he returned to national team duty for the two friendlies before the start of the Copa America, coming off the bench against against Ecuador before starting against Guatemala. He scored a brace in the 4-1 win over Guatemala which sent Argentina into the Copa America on a high note.
And once the tournament got going he showed his class, teeing up Lautaro Martinez for the second goal in a routine 2-0 win over Canada to kickstart the tournament before taking his Copa America overall tally 14 tournament goals with the second against Canada in the semifinal.
Stats as of July 9, 2024
| Season | Competition | Games | Goals | Assists | Mins |
| 2024 | Copa America | 4 | 1 | 1 | 360 |
| 2024 | International Friendlies | 2 | 2 | 1 | 124 |
| TOTAL | 6 | 3 | 2 | 484 |
