Lionel Messi Surpasses Pele to Become Second Highest Men’s International Goal Scorer Behind Cristiano Ronaldo

Argentina’s soccer icon, Lionel Messi, achieved a historic milestone by becoming the second highest goal scorer in men’s international football.

Messi surpassed Iran’s Ali Daei to secure this position after scoring his 109th goal for La Albiceleste in the Copa America semifinals against Canada.

His decisive goal in the 51st minute not only advanced Argentina to the final stages of the tournament with a 2-0 victory but also marked a significant moment in his illustrious career.

Despite this achievement, Messi still trails behind Cristiano Ronaldo’s record of 130 international goals for Portugal. To surpass Ronaldo, Messi needs to score an additional 21 goals in international competitions.

Moreover, Messi set another record in this year’s Copa America by surpassing the appearance milestone in the tournament’s history.

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His 35th appearance across seven editions of the competition exceeded the previous record held by Chilean goalkeeper Sergio Livingstone since 1953. This accomplishment underscores Messi’s enduring impact and longevity in international football.