Argentine World Cup winner netted his 900th career goal on Thursday even as his Inter Miami were ousted from the CONCACAF Champions Cup Round of 16 by Nashville.
Messi, who netted in the seventh minute
of the second-leg Ro16 encounter against Nashville, entered an exclusive club with his landmark goal, which gave the Herons the lead. However, Cristian Espinoza of Nashville restored parity fifteen minutes from time to make it 1-1, as the visitors from Tennessee moved into the quarterfinal of he continental competition on away goals rule.
Messi’s goal brought his total to 81 goals for the MLS champions following his move to Florida in 2023. The eight-time Ballon D’Or winner had previously scored 672 goals for Spanish giants Barcelona, 32 for France’s Paris Saint-Germain, and an additional 115 international goals for Argentina.
His 900th goal came 21 years after he netted his first in senior football, scoring for Barcelona in a 2-0 win over Albacete in 2005 as a fresh-faced 17-year-old.
“I’ve been lucky enough to see most, or many, of the goals he’s scored, much closer than you all, and that’s a privilege,” Miami head coach Javier Mascherano said.
“The number we’re talking about (900) is insane, and that’s why Leo is a one of a kind,” Messi’s compatriot and former teammate at the national side and Barcelona FC added.
The match held extra significance for Inter Miami, marking a farewell to the team’s Chase Stadium. The venue has been Inter Miami’s home since the club joined Major League Soccer in 2020. Next month, the team will move into a new purpose-built 26,700-seat facility.
Messi scored 672 goals for Barcelona in just 778 games, averaging 0.86 goals per game. His remarkable performance helped the Catalan club win 35 trophies before he left for Paris Saint-Germain in 2021.
During his time in France, he netted 32 goals in 75 matches, securing three trophies, including two league titles.
In Miami, Messi scored 81 goals in 96 appearances, contributing to the team’s victories in the 2023 Leagues Cup and the 2025 MLS Cup.
On the international stage, he has scored 115 goals in 196 matches, with two of those goals coming in the World Cup final victory over France in 2022.
