Lionel Messi reached a landmark 900 career goals on Wednesday, becoming only the second player in elite men’s football to achieve the feat after Cristiano Ronaldo.
The 38-year-old Argentine World Cup winner scored with a left-footed strike in Inter Miami’s 1-1 draw with Nashville SC in the CONCACAF Champions Cup. Messi’s milestone came 21 years after his first senior goal for Barcelona at age 17 in 2005.
Inter Miami manager Javier Mascherano described Messi’s tally as «insane».
«I’ve been lucky enough to see most, or many, of the goals he’s scored, much closer than you all, and that’s a privilege,» he added. «The number we’re talking about is insane, and that’s why Leo is one of a kind.»
Messi, an eight-time Ballon d’Or winner, reached 900 goals in his 1,142nd appearance for club and country, nearly 100 games fewer than Ronaldo, who reached the milestone in 1,236 matches in September 2024. Ronaldo has since moved on to 965 goals, aiming for 1,000 before retiring.
The majority of Messi’s goals were scored at Barcelona, where he netted 672 times. He added 32 goals at Paris Saint-Germain, 81 for Inter Miami, and 115 for Argentina, including his 2022 World Cup-winning campaign.
Messi has often delivered in key moments, scoring 175 times in knockout matches, including 35 in finals. His 129 Champions League goals rank second only to Ronaldo’s 140.
Messi’s landmark strike came on a bittersweet night for Miami, who were eliminated from the competition on away goals after a 0-0 first-leg draw.
From economics and politics to business, technology and culture, Kursiv Uzbekistan brings you key news and in-depth analysis from Uzbekistan and around the world. To stay up to date and get the latest stories in real time, follow our Telegram channel.
