Lionel Messi curled home a spectacular free-kick from an acute angle to equalize for Inter Miami against Columbus Crew, moving to within two goals of the record for direct set-piece strikes.
The 39-year-old Argentine stood over a set-piece awarded near the right touchline in the 33rd minute, after Columbus forward Josef Martínez opened the scoring. Instead of crossing into the penalty area, Messi whipped a left-footed effort over the wall and into the top far corner past goalkeeper Patrick Schulte.
Despite Messi’s equalizer, Columbus Crew went on to secure a 2-1 win with a stoppage-time winner.
The strike marks Messi’s 76th direct free-kick goal in official competitive matches across his career with Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, Inter Miami, and the Argentina national team.
Key milestones surrounding Messi’s free-kick pursuit:
- Chasing the All-Time Record: Messi now sits two free-kick goals behind former Brazil midfielder Marcelinho Carioca, who leads widely recognized historical tallies with 78 direct set-piece goals.
- Prolific 2026 Run: The goal continues an impressive year from dead-ball situations for Messi, following set-piece strikes against San Diego FC, CF Montréal, Orlando City, New York City FC, and international duty with Argentina at the World Cup.
- Career Breakdown: Messi scored 50 direct free-kicks during his tenure at Barcelona, with the remainder spread across his spells in Paris, Miami, and international football.
- Career Goal Total: The spectacular strike brings Messi’s overall career goal tally above 931 official goals, further solidifying his position near the top of all-time scoring charts.
Add Comment