Messi Wins 49th Trophy, Extends Record Over Ronaldo

Messi opened the scoring midway through the first half at the 26,700-capacity Nu Stadium. It was his 929th goal in 1,175 appearances. Cristiano Ronaldo, still playing for Al-Nassr at 41, has scored 979 goals in 1,337 games, so the gap between the two now stands at 50.

The trophy tally is where the separation is more pronounced. Forty-nine now sit in Messi's cabinet against 38 for Ronaldo, and the Argentine has also moved four clear of Dani Alves, who held the previous record for most trophies won by a player.

Transfermarkt puts his market value at €15m. He remains Inter Miami's top scorer this season with 18 goals, ahead of Luis Suárez on 12 and Germán Berterame on seven, with the club sitting second in MLS on 45 points from 25 matches.

The win comes weeks after Messi announced his retirement from the Argentina national team, a decision that prompted the AFA to stop matches across the country in the 10th minute for a round of applause in his honour.