Lionel Messi has moved even closer to another remarkable career milestone. The Inter Miami star scored a stunning free kick against Columbus Crew on Sept. 27, taking his reported career total to 76 direct free-kick goals.
The goal came from an extraordinary angle near the right side of the penalty area. Messi curled his left-footed effort over the defensive wall and into the far top corner, briefly bringing Inter Miami level before Columbus eventually won 2-1.
Messi’s latest strike has put one of football’s long-standing free-kick records firmly within reach. Widely cited historical tallies credit Brazilian great Marcelinho Carioca with 78 direct free-kick goals, leaving Messi two short of that mark.
Messi produces another remarkable free kick
Columbus took the lead in the 28th minute when Josef MartÃnez converted a penalty. Five minutes later, Messi stepped over a free kick from an unusually tight position and chose to shoot rather than deliver the ball into the box.
The decision produced an extraordinary finish. Messi bent the ball over goalkeeper Patrick Schulte and inside the back post, creating a 1-1 scoreline. The strike was his 21st MLS goal of the 2026 regular season.
Columbus ultimately spoiled the moment for Miami. Jamal Thiaré scored in the ninth minute of stoppage time, giving the Crew a 2-1 victory despite Messi’s latest set-piece contribution.
The record is now within reach
Messi’s Columbus goal was his 76th direct free-kick goal, according to widely cited statistical tallies. That places him two behind Marcelinho Carioca’s reported 78, meaning another 2 successful free kicks would bring Messi level with the mark.
The milestone has developed quickly during September. Messi reached 75 direct free-kick goals against San Diego FC on Sept. 20, scoring in a 2-2 draw before adding another against Columbus one week later.
Historical free-kick statistics can differ depending on the criteria used by individual record keepers. Some compilations use different definitions or include different competitions, so the precise all-time ranking should be treated with that qualification.
Messi has kept scoring from dead balls
The San Diego goal was already significant before the Columbus strike. Messi’s 24th-minute free kick took him to a reported 75 direct free-kick goals, putting him closer to Jair Rosa Pinto and Marcelinho Carioca in widely cited historical lists.
That strike also gave Messi his 20th MLS goal of the season. According to MLS, he became only the second player in league history to record at least 20 goals in 3 consecutive regular seasons, joining Denis Bouanga.
Messi’s free-kick production has therefore accompanied a broader scoring run in 2026. His Columbus goal was his fourth goal across his previous 4 Inter Miami matches, following his 100th Miami goal against Cruz Azul on Sept. 16.
Messi’s Miami numbers continue to grow
Messi has also been adding milestones with Inter Miami beyond his free-kick record chase. His goal against San Diego was his 101st for the club, coming only 4 days after he reached 100 goals against Cruz Azul.
The 101st goal arrived during a 2-2 draw with San Diego, where Messi equalized after Anders Dreyer had given the visitors a 1-0 lead. Luis Suárez later put Miami ahead before Dreyer completed his brace.
Against Columbus, Messi added another important number to his season. Inter Miami confirmed that his free kick took him to 21 MLS goals, keeping him at the top of the 2026 Golden Boot race.
The latest goal had an unusual angle
The Columbus free kick stood out because Messi had very little apparent shooting space. The ball was positioned between the edge of the penalty area and the corner flag, making a direct attempt look difficult from the available angle.
Instead of sending the ball toward teammates inside the box, Messi aimed directly for goal. His left-footed strike cleared the goalkeeper and curled toward the far side, producing an equalizer that drew immediate attention from viewers and commentators.
The finish also illustrated why Messi remains such a dangerous set-piece option. From a position where many players might cross, he found a shooting route that turned a difficult attacking situation into a goal.
Barcelona remains the biggest part of his tally
Barcelona accounts for the largest portion of Messi’s reported direct free-kick goals. After his Columbus strike, his reported totals stood at 50 for Barcelona, 12 for Argentina, 12 for Inter Miami and 2 for Paris Saint-Germain.
His Barcelona total reflects how long free kicks have been part of his scoring repertoire. During his years in Spain, Messi repeatedly developed a reputation for bending shots over defensive walls and into corners from varied distances.
Inter Miami has added another chapter to that record. Since joining the club in 2023, Messi has continued converting from dead-ball situations, including multiple free kicks during the 2026 MLS season.
Inter Miami still faces a competitive finish
Messi’s individual milestone came during a difficult result for Inter Miami. The 2-1 defeat at Columbus followed a 2-2 draw with San Diego and left Miami with 46 points from 27 regular-season matches.
The loss also ended Miami’s hopes of taking points from a match in which Messi had supplied another equalizer. Columbus found its winner deep into stoppage time, turning what looked like a draw into a home victory.
Inter Miami’s next listed MLS regular-season match is against D.C. United on Oct. 10. That gives Messi another opportunity to continue his scoring run while the free-kick record remains a separate milestone to watch.
Messi now has a clear record target
At 76 direct free-kick goals, Messi is two behind the widely cited 78-goal mark associated with Marcelinho Carioca. One more would move him to 77, while 2 additional goals would bring him level with the reported record.
If Messi reaches 79, he would move beyond the commonly cited 78-goal total and establish a new outright mark under that statistical framework. However, historical comparisons should continue to acknowledge differences among record databases and counting methods.
For now, the numbers provide a straightforward picture. Messi has scored 76 direct free kicks, remains productive for Inter Miami at 39, and has another historic set-piece milestone within striking distance as the 2026 MLS season continues.
Fun fact: Messi has scored 50 direct free kicks for Barcelona, the largest club share of his reported 76-goal total. His other reported totals include 12 for Argentina, 12 for Inter Miami, and 2 for Paris Saint-Germain.
TL;DR
- Lionel Messi scored his 76th reported direct free-kick goal against the Columbus Crew on Sept. 27.
- The strike came from an unusually tight angle and made the score 1-1.
- Columbus eventually won 2-1 through a stoppage-time goal.
- Widely cited records credit Marcelinho Carioca with 78 direct free-kick goals.
- Messi is therefore 2 goals away from matching that reported mark.
- Messi has scored 21 MLS goals during the 2026 regular season.
- His Inter Miami tally has reached 102 goals.
- Historical free-kick records can vary depending on the counting criteria used.
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- Lionel Messi’s remarkable journey with Argentina
- Messi breaks the silence after World Cup defeat
- Lionel Messi reveals stunning final Argentina jersey ahead of emotional farewell
This article was made with AI assistance and human editing.
