Topics: FIFA World Cup, Argentina, Netherlands, Lionel Messi
The Argentina skipper has secured another piece of history.

Lionel Messi has shattered another record by contributing to Argentina scoring the opening goal in Friday's meeting with the Netherlands. The 35-year-old provided the assist for Molina, taking his tally at the World Cup to five and breaking the legendary Pele's record for the most assists in the knockout round in the process. 

Argentina's has a promising start to the night's affair and were duly rewarded in no time just five minutes after the half-hour mark. A beautiful build-up concluded with Lionel Messi threading a wonderful ball through the legs of Nathan Ake to defender Nahuel Molina. The Atletico Madrid defender wasted no time in smashing the ball home to hand Messi his fifth successful assist in a World Cup knockout fixture.

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According to Opta, since 1966, no player has provided more assists in the knockout stage of the World Cup. Brazil's Pele previously hed the record with four. In addition, Messi's assist to Molina took his total haul in the hstory of the competition to seven - more than any other active player has managed so far.

On the all-time list, the Paris Saint-Germain supsertar in one short of going level with Pele's record. He now has now the same number of assists as Poland's Grzegorz Lato and German Pierre Littbarski.