Watch: Messi becomes Argentina's all-time top scorer with beautiful free-kick

Lionel Messi is breaking records and conquering the United States of America at the same time.

On Tuesday, at NRG Stadium, Messi finally surpassed Gabriel Batistuta as Argentina's all-time top scorer, tallying his 55th goal for La Albiceleste to give Gerardo Martino's side a 2-0 lead against the United States men's national team in the Copa America Centenario's semi-finals.

Just how Messi broke the record was, even by his extraterrestrial standards, remarkable. After being bumped to the grass by Chris Wondolowski, the native of Rosario, Argentina stepped up to take the ensuing free-kick and rocketed the ball into the top-right corner, beating Brad Guzan at his near side and silencing the pro-USMNT crowd.

The entire sequence of events was a perfect summary of a player who leaves writers without words. From the charge towards goal that produced the free-kick, to the sniper-esque finish, to yet another record being broken, everything that defines Messi was part of the historic moment. It was, simply put, perfect.

It's worth noting, however, that while Messi holds Argentina's all-time scoring record, Batistuta required much less time to hit the 54-goal mark. It can be easy to forget just how prolific Batigol was back in the day ...