Lionel Messi Nears 900 Career Goals After Latest Inter Miami Win

Lionel Messi continues to redefine footballing greatness, scoring his 899th career goal in Inter Miami’s 2-1 victory over DC United on Sunday, March 1, 2026. The milestone brings the Argentine superstar within reach of 1,000 career goals, a benchmark currently held by Cristiano Ronaldo.

Messi’s Performance and Goal

Playing before a crowd of over 72,000 at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Messi found the back of the net in the 27th minute. He chipped the ball into the goal after receiving a pass from teammate Mateo Silvetti. This goal marks Messi’s third of the 2026 MLS season and his 80th since joining Inter Miami in the summer of 2023.

Career Goal Breakdown

Throughout his illustrious career, Messi has amassed an impressive goal tally. He has scored 784 goals at the club level and 115 goals while representing the Argentine national team. Cristiano Ronaldo currently leads all players with 965 career goals.

Path to 1,000 Goals

While Ronaldo has openly expressed his ambition to reach 1,000 career goals before retirement, Messi has not publicly stated the same goal. Still, given his current form and contract status with Inter Miami through the end of 2028, the possibility remains within reach. With an estimated 40 matches per year, Messi has the potential to score over 100 more goals before his contract expires.

Mascherano’s Praise

Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano, a former teammate of Messi at Barcelona and with the Argentine national team, expressed his admiration for Messi’s achievements. “I am a lucky spectator, nothing more, nothing less,” Mascherano said, as quoted by World Soccer Talk. “I’ve been lucky enough to see most, if not many, of the goals he has scored, much closer than any of you and that’s an honour.” He further emphasized the extraordinary nature of Messi’s approaching 900-goal milestone, calling him a “unique figure.”

Recent Success

This victory over DC United follows Inter Miami’s impressive comeback win against Orlando City on March 2, 2026, where Messi scored two goals and provided an assist in a 4-2 victory, securing their first win of the 2026 MLS season. MLS Soccer reported that Inter Miami, the reigning MLS Cup 2025 champions, rallied from a two-goal deficit to achieve the win.