Lionel Messi has reached a historic milestone, scoring his 900th career goal in senior men’s football, becoming only the second player to achieve this feat after Cristiano Ronaldo.
The 38-year-old Argentine marked the landmark with a left-footed strike during Inter Miami’s 1-1 draw against Nashville SC in the Concacaf Champions Cup. Messi’s first professional goal came in 2005 as a 17-year-old for Barcelona, making this milestone a 21-year journey.
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Inter Miami manager Javier Mascherano described Messi’s achievement as “insane,” praising the Argentine’s consistency and influence across his career. “The number we’re talking about is insane, and that’s why Leo is one of a kind,” Mascherano said.
MESSI’S 900TH GOAL OF HIS CAREER 🐐
(via @FOXSoccer)pic.twitter.com/F8ejTYn1n6
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) March 18, 2026
Messi reached 900 goals in his 1,142nd appearance for club and country, nearly 100 games fewer than Ronaldo, who achieved the mark in September 2024 after 1,236 matches. Ronaldo has since extended his tally to 965 goals and is aiming for 1,000 before retirement.
Most of Messi’s goals were scored at Barcelona (672), followed by 32 at Paris Saint-Germain, 81 at Inter Miami, and 115 for the Argentina, with whom he won the 2022 World Cup. Notably, 175 of his goals have come in knockout matches, including 35 in finals, while his 129 Champions League goals rank second only to Ronaldo’s 140.
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Messi’s 900th goal came on a bittersweet night for Inter Miami, as the team was eliminated from the competition on away goals after a 0-0 draw in the first leg.