Messi Reaches Historic Milestone in Inter Miami Draw
Lionel Messi scored his 900th career goal on Wednesday, becoming only the second male footballer to achieve this feat after Cristiano Ronaldo. The 38-year-old Argentine reached the milestone with a left-footed strike during Inter Miami’s 1-1 draw against Nashville SC in the Concacaf Champions Cup.
Messi’s journey to 900 goals spans 21 years. He first scored for Barcelona as a 17-year-old in 2005. Since then, he has accumulated goals for club and country in spectacular fashion.
Inter Miami manager Javier Mascherano described Messi’s achievement as “insane” and highlighted his unique contribution to the sport. “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,” Mascherano said. “The number we’re talking about is insane, and that’s why Leo is one of a kind.”
Career Overview and Record-Breaking Stats
Messi reached the milestone in his 1,142nd professional appearance, nearly 100 games fewer than Ronaldo, who scored 900 goals in 1,236 matches by September 2024. Ronaldo has since reached 965 goals and aims to hit 1,000 before retiring.
The majority of Messi’s goals came during his spell at Barcelona, where he netted 672 times. He also scored 32 goals for Paris Saint-Germain, 81 for Inter Miami, and 115 for Argentina
