Lionel Messi Joins Ronaldo In 900-Goal Club But Inter Miami Bow Out

Argentine football icon, Lionel Messi has joined Cristiano Ronaldo in football’s exclusive 900-goal club, though the milestone arrived on a night that ended in disappointment for Inter Miami.

Lionel Messi reached the landmark during Wednesday’s CONCACAF Champions Cup clash with Nashville SC at Chase Stadium. He needed just seven minutes to make his mark in the second leg.

He met a low ball into the area, created a yard of space, and drilled a left-footed finish beyond the goalkeeper. It was a familiar sight, but this time it carried historic significance. The strike took his career tally to 900 goals for club and country.

Messi becomes only the second player to reach the figure, following long-time rival Cristiano Ronaldo, who first crossed the mark in 2024 and has since extended his lead.

The Argentine got there quicker. His 900th goal came in his 1,142nd appearance, fewer than the 1,236 matches Ronaldo needed to hit the same number.

Yet the moment was bittersweet. Inter Miami looked set to progress after Messi’s early breakthrough, but Nashville responded late. Cristian Espinoza struck in the 74th minute to level the tie on the night. The 1-1 draw sent Nashville through on away goals, ending Miami’s campaign at the last-16 stage.

The bulk of Messi’s goals were scored during his Barcelona years, where he netted 672 times. He added 32 during his spell at Paris Saint-Germain and has continued to deliver in the United States, scoring freely for Inter Miami.

On the international stage, he remains Argentina’s all-time leading scorer with 115 goals, including seven during their 2022 World Cup triumph.

Ronaldo still leads the all-time charts with 965 goals and has set his sights on reaching 1,000 goals.