The Lionel Messi 900th career goal became another landmark moment in one of football’s greatest careers on Wednesday, as the Argentina captain scored in Inter Miami’s 1-1 draw with Nashville SC in the Concacaf Champions Cup.
The 38-year-old reached the milestone with a left-footed finish, becoming only the second player in elite men’s football to score 900 career goals after Cristiano Ronaldo. The goal came 21 years after Messi scored his first senior goal for Barcelona as a 17-year-old in 2005.
Messi brought up the milestone in his 1,142nd appearance for club and country. That is nearly 100 games fewer than Ronaldo, who needed 1,236 matches to reach 900 goals in September 2024.
MESSI SCORES HIS 900TH CAREER GOAL 🔥 pic.twitter.com/sr6TlmMqo2
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) March 18, 2026Ronaldo has since moved on to 965 goals and is chasing the 1,000 mark before retirement. Still, Messi’s latest achievement adds another major chapter to the long-running comparison between two of football’s defining players.
Inter Miami manager Javier Mascherano described the total as “insane” and said he felt privileged to have seen many of Messi’s goals up close.
How Messi’s 900 Goals Break Down
Most of Messi’s goals came during his historic spell at Barcelona, where he scored 672 times. He added 32 goals at Paris Saint-Germain and has now scored 81 for Inter Miami.
MESSI SCORES HIS 900TH CAREER GOAL 🔥 pic.twitter.com/sr6TlmMqo2
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) March 18, 2026For Argentina, Messi has netted 115 goals, including during the run that ended with World Cup glory in 2022. That spread underlines both his longevity and his impact across club and international football.
The milestone also reflects his record in the biggest matches. According to the source material, 175 of his goals have come in knockout games, including 35 in finals.
Messi’s landmark strike arrived on a bittersweet night for his club. Inter Miami drew 1-1 with Nashville SC but lost on away goals after the first leg ended 0-0.
Even so, the night will be remembered for another major personal achievement. Messi’s 129 goals in Europe’s Champions League remain second only to Ronaldo’s 140, and the 900-goal mark further cements his place among football’s all-time greats.
