Messi Scores 900th Career Goal as Inter Miami Exit CONCACAF Champions Cup

Argentine superstar Lionel Messi reached a remarkable milestone on Wednesday, scoring the 900th goal of his illustrious career, but it wasn’t enough to prevent Inter Miami from being eliminated from the CONCACAF Champions Cup on away goals after a 1-1 draw with Nashville SC.

Messi, 38, opened the scoring just seven minutes into the second leg of the Round of 16 clash, giving Miami an early advantage in what was the club’s final game at their Chase Stadium home in Fort Lauderdale.

However, Nashville’s Cristian Espinoza equalized in the 74th minute, sending the visitors from Tennessee through to the quarter-finals under the away goals rule.

The goal marked Messi’s 81st in Major League Soccer since joining Inter Miami in 2023. Across his career, he has also scored 672 goals for Barcelona, 32 for Paris Saint-Germain, and 115 for the Argentina national team.

Goal number 900 comes 21 years after Messi’s senior debut goal for Barcelona in a 2-0 win over Albacete in 2005, when he was just 17. Widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time, Messi still trails his long-time rival Cristiano Ronaldo, who currently has 965 career goals.

Speaking ahead of the milestone, Miami manager and former teammate Javier Mascherano described Messi’s goal record as “insane.” “I’ve been lucky to witness many of his goals up close, and that’s a privilege. The number we’re talking about is insane that’s why Leo is one of a kind,” Mascherano said.

Wednesday’s match was also a farewell to Inter Miami’s Chase Stadium, their home since entering Major League Soccer in 2020. The team is set to move to a new 26,700-seat facility next month.

Messi, who has already extended his Inter Miami contract through 2028, is expected to feature in his sixth World Cup later this year as Argentina defend their title in the expanded 48-team tournament across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Messi’s career has been defined by prolific scoring. He netted 672 times in 778 games for Barcelona, winning 35 trophies, then added 32 goals in 75 appearances for PSG, and 81 goals in 96 matches for Inter Miami, helping the team secure the 2023 Leagues Cup and the 2025 MLS Cup.

Internationally, he has scored 115 goals in 196 appearances, including two in Argentina’s 2022 World Cup final victory over France.

Despite Messi’s record-breaking achievement, Inter Miami will look ahead to the new season and their new home, while fans celebrate one of football’s greatest ever scorers.