Lionel Andrés Messi reaches 75 free kicks
Lionel Andrés Messi reached 75 career direct free-kick goals on September 20, 2026, when Inter Miami drew 2-2 with San Diego FC in MLS. The strike came in the 24th minute.
Messi then scored another direct free kick against Columbus Crew on September 27, raising his widely cited career total to 76. That leaves him two behind Marcelinho Carioca, who is credited with 78 on several historical lists.
Lionel Messi adds two in Montréal
Lionel Messi scored twice from free kicks against CF Montréal on August 29, 2026, during Inter Miami’s 7 to 1 victory. Those goals raised his career total to 74 in historical records.
The first Montréal free kick arrived in the 40th minute from the right side, while the second came during the sixth minute of stoppage time. Inter Miami recorded its biggest victory.
Lionel Messi scores in the 24th minute
Lionel Messi’s September 20 free kick came from outside the penalty area after San Diego FC conceded a foul. The left-footed shot curled into the top-left corner without another player touching it.
Inter Miami reported that Messi’s goal against San Diego was his 101st goal for the club across all competitions. The milestone came four days after he scored his 100th Inter Miami goal.
Lionel Messi owns 50 Barcelona free kicks
Messi’s international free-kick record includes goals in World Cup and Copa América competition. His Argentina total increased to 12 after his direct free kick against Jordan during the 2026 World Cup.
Messi now has 12 direct free-kick goals for Inter Miami after adding another against Columbus Crew on September 27. His Miami total includes goals in MLS and international club competitions since joining the team in 2023.
Lionel Messi began free kick scoring in 2008
Barcelona recorded Messi’s first direct free kick for the club on November 4, 2008, against Atlético Madrid at Camp Nou. His Barcelona total reached 50 across league and cup competitions overall.
Lionel Messi has 12 direct free kick goals for Argentina, according to the historical breakdown published after his September 2026 milestone. His international total includes goals in qualifiers and major tournaments.
Fun fact: Lionel Messi’s first direct free-kick goal for Barcelona came against Atlético Madrid in November 2008.
Lionel Messi has 12 Argentina free kicks
Messi’s first Inter Miami free kick arrived during his 2023 debut season, while his 2025 strike against FC Porto came during the FIFA Club World Cup. Both counted toward his Miami total.
Messi’s widely cited total now stands at 76 direct free-kick goals, placing him two behind Marcelinho Carioca’s credited mark of 78. Historical totals can vary depending on the competitions and matches included.
Lionel Messi has 11 Miami free kicks
Messi’s first Inter Miami free kick arrived during his 2023 debut season, while his 2025 free kick against FC Porto came during the FIFA Club World Cup. Both were scored for Miami.
Lionel Messi’s 75 direct free kick goals place him three behind Marcelinho Carioca’s credited total of 78. Historical lists differ by competition rules, especially regarding friendlies and top level matches.
Lionel Messi moves past Jair Rosa Pinto
Widely cited historical tables credit Jair Rosa Pinto with 74 direct free-kick goals, Roberto Dinamite with 73 and Juninho Pernambucano with 72. Messi moved beyond those totals after reaching 75 against San Diego on September 20.
His total has since risen to 76 following another free kick against Columbus on September 27. The current breakdown cited by MLS credits him with 50 for Barcelona, 12 for Argentina, 12 for Inter Miami and two for Paris Saint-Germain.
Lionel Messi has two PSG free kicks
Paris Saint-Germain accounts for two of Messi’s career direct free-kick goals, both scored during Ligue 1 competition in the 2022-23 season.
Through September 20, Messi had 20 MLS goals and 13 assists in 23 regular-season appearances for Inter Miami. He has since increased his league scoring total to 21 goals after finding the net against Columbus Crew on September 27.
Lionel Messi leads MLS scoring output
MLS reported that Messi’s 33 goal contributions led the league after the San Diego match. His 20 goals also placed him first in the 2026 Golden Boot standings at that point.
Lionel Messi reached 100 Inter Miami goals on September 16, 2026, against Cruz Azul in the Campeones Cup. The club said he became the first player in team history to reach 100.
Lionel Messi reaches 100 Miami goals
Inter Miami said Messi’s first 100 goals for the club consisted of 11 in 2023, 23 in 2024, 43 in 2025 and 23 through September 16, 2026. He reached the milestone at Nu Stadium against Cruz Azul in the Campeones Cup.
Messi’s later free-kick milestone followed a productive August in which he scored four goals against CF Montréal. Inter Miami won 7-1, recording the largest margin of victory in club history.
Lionel Messi remains signed through 2028
Lionel Messi’s performance against CF Montréal included two direct free-kick goals, one in the 40th minute and another in the sixth minute of stoppage time. He also assisted Luis Suárez during the 7-1 victory.
Messi’s current Inter Miami contract runs through the end of the 2028 MLS season, according to the club’s October 2025 announcement. The agreement keeps him under contract with Miami beyond the 2026 campaign.
Messi’s free-kick record is just one part of his remarkable international story. Explore Lionel Messi’s remarkable journey with Argentina
Lionel Messi sits two behind 78
Messi added another direct free kick on September 27, scoring for Inter Miami in a 2-1 loss to Columbus Crew. The strike raised his widely cited career total to 76 and left him two behind Marcelinho Carioca’s credited total of 78.
Messi’s free-kick goals span Barcelona, Argentina, Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Miami. His first Barcelona direct free kick came in 2008, while his latest arrived for Miami in MLS against Columbus.
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What do you think about Messi’s latest milestone? Share your thoughts in the comments.
This slideshow was made with AI assistance and human editing.
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