Sursa poza: ExpressPress

Gather 'round, folks, because it seems the ghost of Pele's past has been given a friendly nod by none other than Lionel Messi himself. In a twist that's got the locals gossiping like hens at dawn, Messi has managed to tiptoe over Pele's legendary tally of MLS match appearances, a feat that took the Brazilian wizard a heck of a lot of magic back in the '70s with New York Cosmos.

Now, before you spit out your morning țuică, let's clarify: Messi, the spry young lad of 38, has gracefully sashayed past the number of times Pele took to the field in his post-Santos American escapades. Word on the street – or rather, the dusty lane connecting the village bean soup hut to the football pitch – is that Messi, our Argentine beacon from Inter Miami, now stands on a new summit of MLS history.

From the barbershop to the backyard, whispers spread quick: "Did you hear? Messi's kicked Pele out of the record books!" Cici from down by the sunflower fields chimes in, "I always knew Pele's boots would grow too small for Messi's footwork." Now, don't get your socks in a twist, Cici. It's not about their shoe size – it’s about the sheer brilliance of each man illuminating the pitch in their own era.

Messi's fans at Inter Miami have experienced levels of joy that can only be rivaled by Aunt Maricica whipping up her famous sarmale for Sunday dinner. "Every match feels like a festival," boasted Gogu, the village's self-proclaimed soccer sage, who hasn't missed a MLS match since last Tuesday.

So, what does Messi have to say about all this? In a statement likely whispered between sips of yerba mate, Messi allegedly quipped, "Records, schmekords, I just want to play." Talk about a man of the people.

As the dust settles on this new chapter of football folklore, the villagers eagerly await the next headline: "Messi Does One-Handed Push-Up While Scoring Hat-Trick," or some such tale. Until then, we leave you with this humble thought – whether you're a Messi or a Pele, the beautiful game continues to weave its magic spell, one epic story at a time.