Lionel Messi: 5 Records Ballon d’Or Winner Could Break for Argentina and Inter Miami in 2024

Lionel Messi: 5 Records Ballon d’Or Winner Could Break for Argentina and Inter Miami in 2024

Elijah Odetokun
updated at January 11, 2024 at 3:56 PM
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L.Messi
Inter Miami CF logoFArgentina logo
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Club Internacional de Futbol Miami
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  • Lionel Messi will begin the 2024 MLS season with Inter Miami in February
  • He will also lead defending champions Argentina to the Copa America in July
  • The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner has many milestones lined up this year

2022/23 were the years Lionel Messi stamped his legacy on football as possibly the greatest player the sport has ever seen by winning the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar and capping it with his record-extending eighth Ballon d'Or.

He also left European football and moved to Major League Soccer with Inter Miami, with whom he won his 44th trophy, the most of any footballer, surpassing former teammate Dani Alves.

Lionel Messi, Argentina, 2026 World Cup qualifier, Maracana Stadium, Brazil.
Lionel Messi celebrates with the fans after Argentina beat Brazil at the Maracana Stadium. Photo by Wagner Meier.
Source: Getty Images

2024 is another year for the ‘GOAT’, and Sports Brief looks at five records he can break as first analysed by Planet Football.

Records Messi could break in 2024

1. Most Copa America appearances

This is the easiest of all the records. Messi is tied at 34 with former Chilean goalkeeper Sergio Livingstone. He needs to show up, and he will break it and bar any injury preventing him from going to the tournament.

2. Copa America top scorer

Another record on the international stage could be on the horizon. The 2021 Copa America winner has 14 goals in six tournaments, three behind Zizinho and Norberto Mendez’s 17. He will tie and break the record if he replicates his last tournament’s goal-scoring record.

3. Most international goal contributions

This would be quite a race because he is battling with Cristiano Ronaldo, who is still active. The Portuguese has 163 goals and assists on the international stage, while the World Cup winner has 159.

4. Goal contribution milestone

Per Messi vs Ronaldo app, Messi has the highest goal contribution of any footballer, with 1,182. He only needs 18 more goals or assists in 2024 to reach the 1,200 mark. Ronaldo is 60 behind him with 1,122.

5. Record for Inter Miami

The 36-year-old joined Inter Miami in July, and by the end of 2024, he could be the club’s all-time top scorer if he scores 18 more goals and provides nine more assists. Considering he scores or assists every 73 minutes; this is quite achievable.

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Al-Khelaifi explains Messi's celebration snub

Sports Brief reported on Paris Saint-Germain president Nasser Al-Khelaifi explaining why Messi wasn't celebrated after leading Argentina to the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Al-Khelaifi claimed he was snubbed because he won it against the France national team and against Kylian Mbappe, which could have made the fans whistle him.

Authors
Elijah Odetokun photo
Elijah Odetokun
Elijah Odetokun is Reuters-trained journalist with three years of experience having previously worked at Daily Times Nigeria, OmaSports and El Futbolero.