Lionel Messi reached a historic milestone on Wednesday, scoring the 900th goal of his illustrious career, but the achievement was overshadowed as Inter Miami CF were eliminated from the CONCACAF Champions Cup following a 1-1 draw against Nashville SC.
The Argentine forward struck early in the second-leg Round of 16 clash, finding the net in the seventh minute to give Miami a crucial lead at their home ground in Fort Lauderdale. The goal marked a major personal achievement for the 38-year-old, coming more than two decades after his first senior goal for FC Barcelona in 2005.
Despite Messi’s opener, Nashville responded in the second half, with Cristian Espinoza scoring a decisive equaliser in the 74th minute. The goal levelled the tie on aggregate, and Nashville advanced to the quarter-finals on the away goals rule after holding off late pressure from the hosts.
The result ended Inter Miami’s campaign in the competition on a disappointing note, denying the club a chance to celebrate Messi’s milestone with progression to the next stage.
Messi’s latest goal adds to an extraordinary scoring record across club and international football. Since joining Inter Miami in 2023, he has scored 81 goals for the MLS side. Prior to that, he netted 672 goals during a trophy-laden spell with Barcelona and added 32 goals during his time at Paris Saint-Germain. On the international stage, he has scored 115 goals for Argentina national team.
The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner remains second on the all-time scoring charts behind his long-time rival Cristiano Ronaldo, who has amassed 965 career goals.
Speaking ahead of the milestone, Inter Miami head coach Javier Mascherano praised Messi’s remarkable consistency, describing the 900-goal tally as extraordinary and unmatched in modern football.
The match also marked the end of an era for Inter Miami at their current home venue, Chase Stadium, which has hosted the team since their Major League Soccer debut in 2020. The club is set to move into a newly built 26,700-capacity stadium in the coming weeks.
Looking ahead, Messi is expected to play a central role for Argentina at the upcoming FIFA World Cup, where the reigning champions will defend their title. He has also committed his future to Inter Miami, extending his contract through to 2028.
While the night ultimately ended in disappointment for his team, Messi’s 900th goal stands as another landmark in a career widely regarded as one of the greatest in football history.
