Lionel Messi, the Argentine football legend, has added yet another remarkable milestone to his glittering career. Playing for Inter Miami, Messi scored the 901st goal of his professional career, further cementing his status as one of the greatest footballers of all time.
What made this goal particularly special was that it came from a free kick—Messi’s 71st career goal from set pieces. With this achievement, he has overtaken Brazilian legend Pelé, who had previously held 70 free-kick goals, moving Messi to second place on the all-time list of free-kick scorers.
The only player ahead of Messi now is Brazilian maestro Juninho Pernambucano, who scored 77 free-kick goals during his illustrious career. This remarkable feat highlights Messi’s incredible precision and consistency over nearly two decades at the highest levels of football.
Over the years, Messi has mesmerized fans with his dribbling, vision, and lethal finishing, whether on open play or from set pieces. His ability to bend the ball over walls and into the net with surgical accuracy has left goalkeepers helpless time and again. Now, surpassing Pelé’s tally of 70 free-kick goals adds another feather to Messi’s already crowded cap of accolades.
Other football legends like Ronaldinho of Brazil and Argentina’s Leandro Ledesma trail behind, with 66 free-kick goals each, showing just how rare and special Messi’s achievement is. Fans and football pundits alike have hailed the milestone as yet another testament to Messi’s unmatched career and enduring impact on the sport.
Speaking after the game, Messi humbly credited his teammates for creating opportunities and praised the support of fans throughout his journey. “Every goal is a team effort,” he said. “Free kicks are always special, but what matters most is helping the team win.”
