Lionel Messi scored the 900th goal of his professional career, but Inter Miami CF were eliminated from the CONCACAF Champions Cup following a 1-1 draw against Nashville SC.
Messi opened the scoring early in the second-leg encounter, giving Miami the lead in the round-of-16 tie. However, Nashville responded in the second half through Cristian Espinoza, whose goal levelled the aggregate score. The result allowed the visiting side to progress to the quarter-finals on the away goals rule.
The match also marked Inter Miami’s final game at Chase Stadium, adding significance to an evening that combined a personal milestone with team elimination.
Messi’s latest goal increases his tally for Inter Miami to 81 since joining the club in 2023. Over the course of his career, he has scored 672 goals for FC Barcelona, 32 for Paris Saint-Germain, and 115 for the Argentina national team.
The milestone comes more than two decades after his first senior goal in 2005. Despite the achievement, Messi remains behind Cristiano Ronaldo in all-time career goals, with the Portuguese forward holding a higher total.
Inter Miami head coach Javier Mascherano described the achievement as exceptional, noting the scale and consistency of Messi’s scoring record.
Looking ahead, the club is set to move into a new stadium next month, while Messi is expected to continue his international career with Argentina, with a potential appearance at the upcoming World Cup.
