Lionel Messi is once again on the brink of history. As 2026 begins, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner sits on 896 career goals, just four shy of the monumental 900-goal milestone—a number only his longtime rival Cristiano Ronaldo has reached among active players.

Messi’s tally spans an extraordinary career across FC Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, Inter Miami CF, and the Argentina national football team. His final match of 2025—a championship-winning MLS Cup run with Inter Miami—left him poised to hit 900 once competitive play resumes in late February. Argentina’s next match, the Finalissima against Spain in March, could also provide the stage.

Most of Messi’s goals came during his legendary Barcelona years, where he scored 672 goals in 17 seasons, redefining football greatness and shattering long-standing records. He added goals in Paris, continues to score at a remarkable rate in MLS, and has become Argentina’s all-time top scorer, highlighted by his unforgettable performance in the 2022 FIFA World Cup final.

Beyond 900, the bigger question looms: could Messi reach 1,000 goals? With a contract at Inter Miami running through 2028 and an average of 36 goals per season since moving to MLS, the possibility is no longer unthinkable. Being younger than Ronaldo also means time is still on Messi’s side.

Two decades after his first professional goal, Messi continues to stack milestones with a consistency the sport has never seen. Whether it’s 900, 1,000, or beyond, one thing remains clear: football history is still being written—one Messi goal at a time.