Lionel Messi has scored his 900th career goal, becoming only the second player in elite men’s football to reach the milestone after Cristiano Ronaldo.
The 38-year-old Argentina captain achieved the landmark with a left-footed strike during Inter Miami CF’s 1-1 draw against Nashville SC in the Concacaf Champions Cup. The goal came 21 years after his first senior strike for FC Barcelona in 2005.
Messi reached the milestone in 1,142 appearances for club and country—almost 100 games fewer than Ronaldo, who hit the same mark in 1,236 matches in 2024. Ronaldo has since extended his tally to 965 goals and is aiming to become the first player to reach 1,000.
Most of Messi’s goals came during his time at Barcelona, where he scored 672 times. He also netted 32 goals for Paris Saint-Germain, 81 for Inter Miami, and 115 for Argentina, including key contributions to their 2022 World Cup triumph.
Inter Miami manager Javier Mascherano described Messi’s achievement as “insane,” praising his consistency and unique ability over the years. Messi has also delivered in crucial moments, with 175 goals in knockout matches, including 35 in finals.
Despite the milestone, it was a disappointing night for Inter Miami, who were eliminated from the competition on away goals after the first leg ended goalless.
