Lionel Messi’s 901st career goal came in spectacular fashion on Sunday, as the Argentine superstar scored on a free kick to lift Inter Miami to a 3-2 victory over NYCFC — handing the hosts their first loss of the Major League Soccer season.
Messi’s equaliser in the 61st minute came just two minutes after New York had taken the lead. Brazilian defender Michael then headed home the game-winner in the 74th minute to complete the comeback.
The match came three days after Messi scored the 900th goal of his legendary career in Inter Miami’s CONCACAF Champions Cup draw with Nashville, a match that saw Miami eliminated from the tournament.
Argentine defender Gonzalo Lujan opened the scoring for Inter Miami in the fourth minute, firing a right-footed shot into the lower right corner. NYCFC responded in the 17th minute when Nicolas Fernandez smashed a left-footed blast off a free kick into the upper left corner.
GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAL MESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSI
المباراة برعاية: @LOJASTOREGT pic.twitter.com/71YnoYbnDk
— Messi World (@M10GOAT) March 22, 2026Messi had several chances in the first half. He missed right on a fast break in the 27th minute, was denied by NYCFC goalkeeper Matt Freese in the 36th, struck the crossbar in the 42nd, and sent a shot wide from the heart of the box in the 44th.
Messi’s Free Kick Turns the Tide
New York took the lead in the 59th minute when Agustín Ojeda fired a through ball from Maxi Moralez into the bottom right corner.
But just two minutes later, Messi delivered. After being fouled by NYCFC’s Aiden O’Neill, the Inter Miami captain smashed a left-footed free kick into the net to level the score at 2-2.
ملخص الأسطورة ليو ميسي ضد نيويورك سيتي 🐐🎥 pic.twitter.com/IG5m35KoUC
— Messi World (@M10GOAT) March 22, 2026Michael completed the comeback in the 74th minute, heading home from the right side of the box off a crossing pass from Noah Allen.
The victory improved Inter Miami’s record to 3-1-1, while NYCFC fell to 3-1 their first defeat of the 2026 MLS campaign.
Read: Lionel Messi 900th Career Goal Marks Historic Milestone
For Messi, the match added another milestone to a career already filled with records. His 901st goal continues a remarkable scoring run that shows no signs of slowing as Inter Miami pushes forward in the MLS season.
The win also served as a rebound for Miami, which had been eliminated from the CONCACAF Champions Cup midweek. With Messi in form and the team finding crucial goals from multiple sources, Inter Miami appears positioned for a strong run in league play.
*Additional information sourced from AFP
