Lionel Messi reaches milestone 900th professional strike, yet Miami's campaign comes to an abrupt end

Lionel Messi, the Argentine superstar, reached a career milestone of 900 goals on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, during the CONCACAF Champions Cup Round of 16 Second Leg match between Inter Miami CF and Nashville SC at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Messi's achievement came after he scored in the seventh minute, giving Inter Miami a 1-0 lead, but Nashville's Cristian Espinoza equalized in the 74th minute, resulting in a 1-1 draw and Inter Miami's elimination from the competition on away goals.

The 38-year-old Messi has now scored 81 goals for Inter Miami, following his move to the club in 2023, in addition to his 672 goals for Barcelona, 32 goals for Paris Saint-Germain, and 115 international goals for Argentina.

Messi's 900th goal was scored 21 years after his first senior goal for Barcelona in a 2-0 win over Albacete in 2005, when he was just 17 years old.

Despite his impressive record, Messi still trails his rival Cristiano Ronaldo, who has scored 965 career goals, with Messi widely regarded as one of the greatest players in football history.

Miami manager Javier Mascherano, a former teammate of Messi's at Argentina and Barcelona, described Messi's goals total as "insane" and stated that he feels privileged to have witnessed many of Messi's goals up close.

Mascherano's comments came ahead of Messi's 900th goal, with the Argentine star's achievement being hailed as a testament to his exceptional skill and dedication to the sport.

Wednesday's match also marked Inter Miami's farewell to their Chase Stadium home, which has been their venue since the club entered Major League Soccer in 2020, with the team set to move into a new 26,700-seat facility next month.

Messi is expected to play in his sixth World Cup later this year, as Argentina defends their title in the 48-team tournament being held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, and has extended his contract with Inter Miami through to the end of the 2028 season.

Messi's prolific goalscoring has been a hallmark of his career, with his 672 goals for Barcelona coming in just 778 games, and his 81 goals for Inter Miami coming in just 96 appearances, helping the team win the 2023 Leagues Cup and the 2025 MLS Cup.

His international record is equally impressive, with 115 goals in 196 matches, including two in the 2022 World Cup final victory over France, leaving him second only to Ronaldo according to most recognized statistical records.

Brazilian legend Pele is often said to have scored over 1,000 goals, but most statisticians put his total at 762, with Messi's goals tally being widely recognized as one of the most impressive in football history.