Weaving in and out of MLS , the GOAT already makes it look too easy. After all, Lionel Messi has already notched three and assisted another in his first two matches with . 

He kicked off his debut in signature style by scoring a last-minute free-kick against Cruz Azul in Leagues Cup, topping it off with two more goals in a win against Atlanta.

Should Messi continue with the insane contribution numbers, he shouldn’t have much difficulty breaking some MLS . However, he’s unlikely to break any single-season records this year — there are only 12 regular season games left in the 2023 MLS season. The 2024 MLS season starts anew in February 2024. 

Here are some of the records Lionel Messi is bound to break during his 2.5-season deal. 

Most goals in a single MLS season: 34 (Carlos Vela)

In 2019, LAFC’s Carlos Vela broke Josef Martinez’s MLS single-season goals record with 34 strikes. Messi starts his Golden Boot campaign against Charlotte this August. Nashville SC’s Hany Mukhtar is the league’s 2023 MLS leading scorer with 13 strikes. 

is the all-time leading MLS goalscorer, with 136 strikes over 15 seasons.  

Most goals for Inter Miami: 29 (Gonzalo Higuain)

Messi will try to overtake fellow countryman Gonzalo Higuain in his own quest to become the Herons’ all-time leading scorer. Higuain scored 29 goals in 67 MLS games in Pink.  

Most goals in MLS from free-kicks: 13 (Sebastian Giovinco)

Sebastian Giovinco, the diminutive Italian maestro, has long held the record for the most free-kick goals in a single MLS season—his 13 free-kick goal record during the 2015 season still stands. Again, this is a record that Messi can easily snag in a full-season campaign.

Most assists in a single MLS season: 26 (Carlos Valderrama)

At the dawn of the new millennium, the Colombian icon Carlos Valderrama established a remarkable MLS single-season assist record by providing 26 assists. Messi, the magician, is also a prolific assist man – he notched 16 last season alone with PSG. 

Photo: Instagram/leomessi