FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Lionel Messi scored his 900th career goal in the opening minutes of Inter Miami’s CONCACAF Champions League last-16 tie against Nashville on Wednesday night.
The two-time MLS MVP, eight-time Ballon d’Or winner and World Cup winner scored as one would expect – with his left foot, as he has for most of his career goals for club and country. In the 7th minute, he received the ball in the middle of the penalty area. After controlling the ball, he turned around and shot a low shot past two defenders and into the far corner of the goal.
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Cristiano Ronaldo is the only male player to score more than 900 goals. Ronaldo took about 100 more games than Messi to reach this milestone; Ronaldo will be 39 when he reaches 900 goals in September 2024, while Messi will not turn 39 until June.
Messi remains the most popular and talked about player in the sport. Since he arrived in MLS, his No. 10 Inter Miami jersey has been the best-selling jersey in the league, and everything he does becomes big news in every corner of the football world.
This milestone joins countless other awards and achievements in Messi’s career, including eight Pichichi Trophies as La Liga’s top scorer, six La Liga Player of the Year nominations, three FIFA Men’s Player Awards, three UEFA Men’s Player of the Year awards, two FIFA World Cup Ballon d’Or awards and no fewer than 15 Argentina Player of the Year awards.
He has also won 47 trophies for club and country, including the 2022 World Cup with Argentina and last season’s MLS title with Inter Miami, making him the most decorated player in men’s football history.
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“The reality is,” Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano said late last season, “Leo removes all doubts.”
More than half of Messi’s goals have come at Barcelona, where he has played for nearly two decades. He joined Inter Miami in 2023. His initial contract ended last season, and his new contract has been extended until 2028.
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