Lionel Messi once again captured worldwide attention with a stunning four‑goal performance as Inter Miami secured another lopsided win. Two of those goals came from direct free kicks, moving the Argentine legend into a tie for second place on the sport’s all‑time free‑kick scoring chart.
In Saturday’s MLS encounter with CF Montreal, the game was level at 1‑1 when Messi delivered a memorable 40th‑minute free‑kick that ignited Inter Miami’s dominance. There was brief confusion over whether the ball, deflecting off Luca Petrasso, had crossed the line as an own goal past goalkeeper Thomas Gillier, but officials confirmed the original shot was aimed on target and credited the goal to Messi.
Messi then struck twice more in open play, scoring in the 52nd and 83rd minutes to push the lead to 3‑1 and 5‑1, before curling in a spectacular stoppage‑time free kick to seal a 7‑1 victory. The outing also placed him at the summit of the 2026 MLS Golden Boot race and increased his career free‑kick tally.
The pair of free‑kick goals against Montreal elevated Messi to second on the all‑time free‑kick list. He now has 74 direct free‑kick goals, matching Brazilian legend Jair Rosa Pinto and sitting just four strikes behind leader Marcelinho Carioca, who holds 78.
Saturday’s match was only the fourth occasion Messi has scored multiple free kicks in one game, and his first doing so while wearing an Inter Miami kit. His three prior such feats were achieved while at FC Barcelona: the 2015 UEFA Super Cup final versus Sevilla, a La Liga game against Espanyol in December 2018, and a league match versus Celta Vigo in November 2019.
His two free‑kick goals against Montreal gave him three and four free‑kick strikes in 2026, raising his total for Inter Miami to ten. Seven of those came in MLS action, putting him within reach of Sebastian Giovinco’s league record of 13.
All‑time top 10 direct free‑kick scorers
- Marcelinho Carioca (Brazil): 78 goals
- Lionel Messi (Argentina): 74 goals
- Jair Rosa Pinto (Brazil): 74 goals
- Roberto Dinamite (Brazil): 73 goals
- Juninho Pernambucano (Brazil): 72 goals
- Marcos Assuncao (Brazil): 68 goals
- Sinisa Mihajlovic (Serbia): 67 goals
- Jorge Aravena (Chile): 65
- Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal): 64 goals
- Zico (Brazil): 62 goals
Messi’s free‑kick tally by club
- FC Barcelona: 50 goals
- Argentina: 12 goals
- Inter Miami: 10 goals
- PSG: 2 goals
Can Messi claim the all‑time free‑kick record?
Since joining Inter Miami, Messi has shown that his competitive spirit remains undiminished as he enters the later stage of his career. With a string of MLS records already broken, his reliable free‑kick conversion continues to boost his goal total, prompting speculation about whether the 39‑year‑old can overtake the all‑time leader before retiring.
In 2025, Messi scored three free‑kick goals for Inter Miami; by 2026 he had already surpassed that figure, tallying four for the club and one for Argentina at the 2026 World Cup, for a calendar‑year total of five. If he maintains an average of four to five free‑kick goals annually through the end of his contract in December 2028, Messi will have ample opportunity to match and ultimately surpass Marcelinho Carioca’s record.
Also Read
- San Diego Padres Place Gavin Sheets and Luis Rengifo on 10-Day Injured List
- Yankees Shortstop George Lombard Jr. Evaluates Knee Injury Status After Exiting Sunday’s Game
- Jon Moxley Claims Inaugural Continental Challenge Cup in Emotional AEW All In Finale
- England Clinch Series with Dominant Victory Over Pakistan at Lord’s