Lionel Messi has been no stranger to breaking records throughout his glittering career.

The Argentine ace, 36, announced his decision to sign for Inter Miami earlier this month and will soon be lighting up Major League Soccer with his customary magic.

We take a look at some of the ways Messi can write himself into the history books at his new club.

Most goals in a single season

Currently, former Arsenal youngster Carlos Vela holds the record for the most MLS goals scored in a single season.

The Mexican achieved that impressive haul in the 2019 campaign, notching 34 times in just 31 appearances for Los Angeles FC. 

Such numbers are surely well within reach for the seven-time Ballon d'Or winner, who still managed 16 strikes for Paris Saint-Germain in 32 Ligue 1 games last term.

Messi may not be as prolific as in his pomp, but a lower quality of league should still see him find the back of the net regularly. 

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Most assists in a single season

If the Barcelona hero cannot top the scoring charts, perhaps breaking the league record for assists is a more realistic target.

Messi has set up well over 300 goals across his club career and is notoriously unselfish when it comes to playing in his team-mates during goalscoring opportunities.

Cult hero Carlos Valderrama has been the holder of this record since 2000, when the unmistakable Colombian laid on an impressive 26 goals — a tally nobody has come close to topping since.

But with former MLS MVP Josef Martinez among the forwards Messi will be feeding, Valderrama's lofty total now looks under threat.

First Miami silverware winner

Aside from individual accolades, the grand hope is that Messi can be part of the first Inter Miami team to win silverware.

While their current MLS campaign has been nothing short of disastrous, the Florida outfit have sneaked through to the final four of the US Open Cup, where FC Cincinnati lie in wait in August.

On recent form, that tie looks an extremely tough task — Pat Noonan's side currently sit top of the Eastern Conference, a full 28 points better off than their struggling opponents.

However, with Messi and Sergio Busquets likely to both be fit and firing by the time of that semi-final, there is hope that Gerardo Martino's men can find a way through to the showpiece.

If Messi and Co reach the final, they would face either Houston Dynamo or Real Salt Lake on September 27 in what would be a historic occasion indeed.