Messi scores 76th free-kick goal, moves within two of all-time record

(FILES) Inter Miami's Argentine forward #10 Lionel Messi celebrates a goal during a Major League Soccer (MLS) regular season football match between Inter Miami CF and Orlando City SC at NU Stadium in Miami, on May 2, 2026. (Photo by Giorgio Viera / AFP)

Lionel Messi curled home a spectacular free-kick from a near-impossible angle to equalise for Inter Miami against Columbus Crew on Sunday, taking his career total of free-kick goals to 76 and moving within two of the all-time record, according to football transfer expert Fabrizio Romano.

The Argentine, 39, stood over a set-piece awarded near the right touchline in the 33rd minute after Columbus had taken an early lead through Josef Martínez. Rather than deliver a cross into the box, Messi struck the ball with his left foot, sending it over the wall and into the far top corner beyond the reach of goalkeeper Patrick Schulte.

The goal made the score 1-1, though Columbus went on to win 2-1 with a late stoppage-time strike.

The free-kick was Messi’s 76th in official matches across his career with Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, Inter Miami and Argentina.

It leaves him two short of the mark most widely attributed to Brazilian Marcelinho Carioca, who is credited with 78 direct free-kick goals.

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Messi has enjoyed a prolific run from set pieces in 2026. He scored against San Diego FC to reach 75, netted twice in Inter Miami’s 7-1 win over CF Montréal, and also found the net from free-kicks against Orlando City, New York City FC, and Jordan with Argentina at the World Cup.

The latest strike continues Messi’s late-career mastery of free-kicks. He scored 50 for Barcelona, more than a dozen for Argentina, and has added further goals for Inter Miami since joining the MLS side in 2023.

His overall career goal tally now stands above 931.

Historical free-kick records can vary depending on the criteria used by different compilers, with some lists still placing Juninho Pernambucano near the top with 77.

However, recent tallies consistently rank Marcelinho Carioca first and Messi second after the Columbus goal.