Lionel Messi becomes first MLS player with three straight 15-assist seasons

Milestone dish arrives in the first half vs. Atlanta United

Wire Report IntelligenceUpdated 1h1 min read

Lionel Messi registered his 15th assist of the season in the first half of tonight's @InterMiamiCF match against Atlanta Via @MLS_PR on X

What happened: Lionel Messi registered his 15th assist of the 2026 MLS regular season during the first half against Atlanta United, per MLS Communications. With that setup, Messi, who credited his teammates' unity earlier this season, became the first player in league history to post at least 15 assists in three consecutive seasons.

Why it matters: Reaching the 15-assist threshold across three straight regular seasons establishes a new multi-year standard for playmaking consistency in MLS. No player had previously sustained that level of chance creation over a three-season span in league history.

By the numbers: Messi has logged at least 15 assists in three consecutive MLS regular seasons, hitting the 15-assist mark for 2026 in the opening half against Atlanta United.

What to watch: Messi will look to add to his 2026 assist total through the second half against Atlanta United and the remainder of the MLS regular season.

Sources

@MLS_PR 2026-10-18T00:58:46.032297+00:00

Box score

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