Argentine superstar Lionel Messi surpassed long-term rival Cristiano Ronaldo's record for most non-penalty goals following his brace for Inter Miami and NY Red Bulls in the MLS on Sunday, report agencies. Messi notched up his 764th non-penalty goal in his illustrious career to surpass the Portuguese talisman Ronaldo's record of 763 strikes. Remarkably, the World Cup-winner achieved the feat in 167 fewer games.
Messi netted a brace, his sixth in the previous seven MLS games, against NY Red Bulls on Monday as the Herons coasted to a 5-1 win over the hosts at the Red Bull Arena. Messi levelled Ronaldo's record with his first strike of the day in the 60th minute of the game, before shattering the Portuguese player's tally with his second of the day in the 75th minute as he helped his side over the line.
Messi pulled off a trademark run to get past the opposition defensive setup, in addition to rounding the keeper, before slotting the ball into the empty net as he gave the Hernons a 4-1 lead. He put the last nail in NY's coffin as he brought down a cross into the area with his chest before guiding it past a hapless custodian to make it 5-1.
The win helped Miami bounce back from a 0-3 defeat at the hands of Cincinnati, in which Messi's run of braces in five-straight game was snipped.
Messi became the first player in league history to score more than one goal in five consecutive regular-season matches, thanks to his brace against Nashville.
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