Lionel Messi Achieves Historic 900 Goals Despite Inter Miami's Exit

Lionel Messi has made history by scoring his 900th career goal during a match against Nashville, despite Inter Miami's exit from the Concacaf Champions Cup. This achievement places him alongside Cristiano Ronaldo as one of the few players to reach this milestone. Messi's goal came in the 7th minute, but Nashville equalized later, leading to their advancement in the tournament. As both players aim for 1000 career goals, they are also preparing for what could be their final FIFA World Cup appearance, marking a significant moment in football history.

By Narendra Chaudhary Mar 19, 2026, 16:11 IST

Messi's Milestone Amidst Tournament Exit

In a remarkable display of skill, Lionel Messi reached a significant milestone by scoring his 900th career goal, even as Inter Miami faced elimination from the Concacaf Champions Cup. The match against Nashville ended in a 1-1 draw on March 18 at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Messi opened the scoring in the 7th minute with a brilliant finish after maneuvering past a defender. However, Nashville equalized in the 74th minute through Cristian Espinoza, securing their place in the quarter-finals based on the away goals rule. The first leg had concluded in a 0-0 stalemate on March 12 at Geodis Park in Nashville.

Messi Makes History

Messi's goal not only marked his 900th but also made him the second player ever to achieve this feat in official matches, following Cristiano Ronaldo. To date, Messi has netted 81 goals for Inter Miami, alongside 672 for Barcelona and 32 for Paris Saint-Germain (PSG). Additionally, he has scored 115 goals for the Argentina national team. Notably, Messi reached this milestone at a younger age and in fewer matches than Ronaldo, becoming the first to hit 900 goals before turning 38 and before playing 1200 games. He accomplished this in 94 fewer matches than Ronaldo.

Fastest and Youngest to 900 Goals (Official Matches Only)

Player	Age	Matches	Date
Lionel Messi	38 years, 213 days	1142	18th March 2026
Cristiano Ronaldo	39 years, 213 days	1236	6th September 2024

As both players continue their pursuit of the monumental 1000 career goals, Ronaldo is closing in with 965 goals. With the upcoming FIFA World Cup likely to be their last, they, along with Luka Modric, are set to make history as the first players to participate in six different editions of the tournament.