Angel Di Maria breaks incredible Lionel Messi record, sits one shy of Cristiano Ronaldo’s tally after standout UEFA Champions League display
Benfica ace Angel Di Maria has surpassed former Argentina teammate Lionel Messi's UEFA Champions League assist tally and is closing in on Cristiano Ronaldo's after his display against Monaco. El Fideo, as the Argentine is popularly known, was instrumental for his Portuguese side as they came from behind to defeat Monaco 3-2.
Formerly of Real Madrid, Di Maria has been in fine form for Benfica this season, having signed a one-year deal in the summer. The 36-year-old has scored eight goals and provided five assists in 16 appearances across all competitions for his club this season.
Di Maria eclipsed Lionel Messi with a brace of assists in the closing stages of the encounter against Monaco at the Stade Louis II. It took his tally in the UEFA Champions League to 41, one more than Messi's (via Fabrizio Romano). The former Paris Saint-Germain star is now just one assist shy of the competition's record, jointly held by Cristiano Ronaldo and Ryan Giggs.
Angel Di Maria helped Benfica rescue a 1-2 deficit to win 3-2 with two assists in the final six minutes of the encounter. His pinpoint cross found the head of Arthur Cabral in the 84th minute before setting up Zeki Amdouni with another excellent cross in the 88th minute of the encounter to score the winner.
Di Maria has played 112 games in the Champions League in his professional career, less than the 163 played by Lionel Messi. His tally of games is also less than the 183 played by Cristiano Ronaldo, indicating that he has managed to create more goals than the pair in much less game time.
Lewandowski, Di Maria close in on Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo's records
Robert Lewandowski and Angel Di Maria have taken steps to close in on records held by Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi in the UEFA Champions League this season. The pair of 36-year-olds are closing in on the records for most goals and most assists in the competition, two categories led by the iconic duo of Messi and Ronaldo.
Lewandowski scored a brace for Barcelona in their win over Brest, taking him up to third in the UEFA Champions League all-time scoring charts with 101 goals. The forward is now 40 goals shy from breaking the record of 140 goals set by Ronaldo in his time in Europe. Messi's tally of 129 goals is much closer for the Poland international, as well.
Like Lewandowski, Di Maria recorded a brace of assists for Benfica against Monaco, another French side. The two assists took him up to 41 in the competition, one more than Messi and one behind Ronaldo, who holds the record.