Lionel Messi became only the second male footballer to score 900 official career goals on Wednesday, reaching the milestone during Inter Miami CF’s 1-1 draw against Nashville SC in the second leg of the CONCACAF Champions Cup.
Despite Messi’s early strike, Inter Miami were eliminated on the away goals rule after Cristian Espinoza’s equaliser sent Nashville through. The goal, however, marked a historic personal achievement, placing Messi alongside Cristiano Ronaldo236 games. In the all-time scoring rankings, Pelé sits third with 765 goals, while other active stars like Robert Lewandowski trail with 690 goals.
A large portion of Messi’s goals came during his legendary spell at FC Barcelona, where he scored 672 times after debuting in 2004. He later added 32 goals for Paris Saint-Germain before continuing his prolific form in the United States with 81 goals for Inter Miami.
On the international stage, the Argentina national team captain has netted 115 goals, solidifying his status as one of football’s greatest players. Messi’s most remarkable individual year remains 2012, when he scored an astonishing 91 goals for club and country—a record that still stands as one of the sport’s most extraordinary achievements.