New Delhi, March 19: Argentine football legend Lionel Messi has become only the second player in history to score 900 goals in professional football. He achieved this milestone during Inter Miami’s CONCACAF Champions Cup match against Nashville SC. Despite Messi’s historic goal, his team was eliminated from the tournament.
Messi scored his 900th goal in the second leg of the Round of 16 at Geodis Park, finding the net in the seventh minute of the match. This goal marked his eighth in the CONCACAF Champions Cup, and he has also provided assists for two other goals for Inter Miami.
With this achievement, Messi joins Cristiano Ronaldo as the only two footballers in the world to have scored 900 or more goals. Ronaldo reached this milestone in September 2024 while playing for Portugal against Croatia.
The 38-year-old striker has scored for various clubs including Miami, FC Barcelona, and Paris Saint-Germain, and has won the Ballon d’Or eight times. In 2012, he set a record for the most goals in a calendar year, netting 91 times, including 79 for Barcelona and 12 for Argentina. He is also the fastest player to reach 100 Champions League goals, doing so in just 123 matches.
Despite Messi’s historic goal, Inter Miami was knocked out of the CONCACAF Champions Cup as the aggregate score remained 1-1, with Nashville advancing due to the away goals rule. The first leg ended in a goalless draw, giving Nashville a slight advantage.
Messi’s goal came when he skillfully shot with his left foot, putting Inter Miami ahead 1-0. However, Nashville equalized in the 74th minute with a goal from Cristian Espinoza.
Nashville SC has now advanced to the quarter-finals, achieving a new best record for the club in the CONCACAF Champions Cup.