Inter Miami’s head coach, Javier Mascherano, described Lionel Messi as “one of a kind” as the Argentine forward approaches the milestone of 900 career goals this Saturday night against D.C. United.
Since his professional debut with Barcelona on November 16, 2003, Messi has netted 898 goals.
“I consider myself a privileged observer, nothing more,” Mascherano said. “I haven’t played a significant role in his goal-scoring, whether through assists or as a coach. I’ve been fortunate to witness many of his goals up close, and that’s a privilege. The figure we’re discussing [900] is incredible, and that’s what makes Leo truly unique.”
The bulk of Messi’s goals were scored during his time in La Liga with Barcelona, where he tallied 672 goals, in addition to 79 at Inter Miami and 32 at Paris Saint-Germain. On the international stage, the reigning World Cup champion has scored 115 goals for the Argentina national team.
Messi’s impressive goal-scoring feats have also earned him the 2025 MLS golden boot, as he scored 29 goals in the regular season, making him the league’s top scorer. He also received the 2025 MLS MVP award, making history as the first player to win this award in consecutive seasons.
Messi is no stranger to breaking records. The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner holds the record for the most goals scored in a single calendar year, netting 91 goals across 69 matches in 2012—79 for Barcelona and 12 for Argentina.
Moreover, he is the fastest player in history to reach 100 goals in the Champions League, accomplishing that feat in just 123 matches.
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Cristiano Ronaldo remains the only active player to have reached the 900-goal milestone, achieving it in September 2024. Messi currently holds the second spot among active players, ahead of Robert Lewandowski in third place.