Lionel Messi scores 900th career goal

Argentine soccer star becomes second player ever to reach the milestone

Mar. 19, 2026 at 1:23am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Lionel Messi has scored his 900th career goal for club and country, joining rival Cristiano Ronaldo as the only men's soccer players in history to reach that plateau. The historic moment came in the 7th minute of Inter Miami's CONCACAF Champions Cup match against Nashville SC, when Messi took a few dribbles and fired the ball through the legs of a defender and past the goalkeeper.

Why it matters

Messi's achievement cements his status as one of the greatest soccer players of all time, further solidifying his legacy as a true icon of the sport. Reaching 900 career goals is an incredible feat that few players have ever accomplished.

The details

Messi reached the 900-goal milestone in 1,142 matches, 94 fewer than Ronaldo when he reached the mark in 2024. Messi's 900 goals include 785 for his club teams (Barcelona, Paris-St. Germain, Inter Miami) and 115 for the Argentina national team. The historic goal came in the 7th minute of Inter Miami's Champions Cup match against Nashville SC, when Messi received a pass from Sergio Reguilon, took a few dribbles, and fired the ball through the legs of a defender and past the goalkeeper.

  • Messi scored his 900th career goal on March 18, 2026 in the second leg of Inter Miami's CONCACAF Champions Cup round of 16 match against Nashville SC.
  • Messi made his professional debut on October 16, 2004.

The players

Lionel Messi

An Argentine professional soccer player who currently plays as a forward for Inter Miami CF. Messi is widely considered one of the greatest soccer players of all time, having won a record 7 Ballon d'Or awards.

Cristiano Ronaldo

A Portuguese professional soccer player who currently plays as a forward. Ronaldo is Messi's longtime rival and the only other men's soccer player to have scored 900 career goals.

Sergio Reguilon

A Spanish professional soccer player who currently plays as a defender for Inter Miami CF.

Jeisson Palacios

A defender for Nashville SC who was on the field when Messi scored his 900th career goal.

Brian Schwake

The goalkeeper for Nashville SC who was unable to stop Messi's historic goal.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Clearly, we don't fully grasp the magnitude of it; talking about him scoring 900 goals is insane, incredible for such a unique player. The truth is, I always end up saying the same thing: Leo's numbers are amazing, but above all, statistics are the least important aspect. You can score a lot of goals, the key is how you do it, and he's managed not only to reach incredible numbers in terms of goals and assists, but also because of what he contributes to the game itself, which I believe is much more important than his stats.”

— Javier Mascherano, Inter Miami coach

What’s next

Inter Miami's Wednesday match ended in a 1-1 draw, and they were eliminated from the Champions Cup due to the away-goal tiebreaker. The club will now focus on their upcoming move to their brand new home, Nu Stadium at Miami Freedom Park, which is slated to host its first game on April 4.

The takeaway

Lionel Messi's historic achievement of scoring 900 career goals cements his status as one of the greatest soccer players of all time. His unparalleled skill, creativity, and goal-scoring prowess have made him a true icon of the sport, inspiring fans around the world.