Lionel Messi Reaches Historic 900 Career Goals in Inter Miami Victory

Lionel Messi cemented his legendary status on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, by scoring his 900th career goal during Inter Miami’s Concacaf Champions Cup match against Nashville SC. The milestone goal came in the 7th minute, giving Inter Miami an early 1-0 lead in the second leg of the round-of-16 tie.

A Historic Achievement

Messi is only the second player in the history of professional football to reach the 900-goal mark, trailing only Cristiano Ronaldo, who achieved the feat in September 2024 and currently has 965 goals. Remarkably, Messi reached this milestone in approximately 100 fewer games than his long-time rival. While Ronaldo reached 900 goals at age 39, Messi will turn 39 in June.

Goal Breakdown

Throughout his illustrious career, Messi has tallied goals for several clubs and his country:

• FC Barcelona: 672 goals
• Paris Saint-Germain: 32 goals
• Inter Miami: 81 goals
• Argentina National Team: 115 goals

Match Context and Champions Cup Implications

The match against Nashville SC was the second leg of their Concacaf Champions Cup round-of-16 series. The first leg, played on March 11, 2026, ended in a 0-0 draw at GEODIS Park. A win for either team would secure their place in the quarterfinals, where they would face Los Angeles FC. A draw of any scoreline except 0-0 would have sent Nashville SC through on away goals. The game was also potentially the last at Inter Miami CF Stadium before the opening of the new Nu Stadium at Miami Freedom Park on April 4.

Messi’s Continued Dominance

Messi’s goal-scoring record extends beyond the 900-goal milestone. He holds the record for the most goals scored in a calendar year with 91 goals in 2012 and was the fastest player to reach 100 Champions League goals.

Where Messi Stands Among All-Time Greats

Following Messi in the all-time goal-scoring list are Pelé (765 goals) and Romário (765 goals), and Ferenc Puskás (725). Among active players, Robert Lewandowski currently has 693 goals, and Luis Suárez, Messi’s Inter Miami teammate, has 600 goals.

Recent Form

Prior to the match against Nashville, Inter Miami played to a 0-0 tie against Charlotte FC, with Messi rested for the crucial Champions Cup clash. Nashville SC had recently defeated the Columbus Crew 1-0, with Hany Mukhtar scoring a late winner.