As they say, legends never stop changing or growing, and this was once again demonstrated by Lionel Messi on Sunday night at Yankee Stadium. During an important Major League Soccer match for both teams, Inter Miami knocked off New York City FC, 3-2, as Messi not only led Inter to this dramatic comeback win but also scored his 71st career free-kick goal, which allowed him to pass the "King of Football," Pelé, and become the second-leading free-kick scorer in football history.
In the game's 61st minute, Messi's familiar left-footed free kick found the back of the net, thus surpassing Pelé's 70 free-kicks as he now sits at number 2 in history behind only Cristiano Ronaldo.
A Milestone for the Ages: Surpassing Pelé
For decades, Pelé’s record of 70 free-kick goals stood as a towering benchmark of South American excellence. Messi, who began his career primarily as a dribbling wizard and prolific open-play finisher, has spent the last decade refining the "dead ball" into his most lethal weapon.
This latest strike, which took a slight deflection to deceive the NYCFC keeper, marks his fourth goal of the 2026 MLS season. Now Messi stands alone in second place, trailing only the legendary Brazilian specialist Juninho Pernambucano, who holds the world record with 77 goals.
With only six goals separating him from that summit, this "GOAT" is very much within striking distance for an undisputed title as free-kick king before his new contract with Inter Miami concludes in 2028.
The 900-Goal Club: Chasing the Ultimate Century
The timing of this record feels meaningful. Days after scoring his 900th career goal in a disappointing CONCACAF Champions Cup loss to Nashville SC, Messi added his 901st in a joyful moment.
Cristiano Ronaldo holds the all-time lead with 965 goals, but Messi hit 900 in just 1,142 games, not 1,236. At 38, he still scores at a high rate.
His performance shows he hasn't just stayed active; he still makes the biggest impact on each match. That kind of consistency doesn't happen often. And it's clear he remains one of the most reliable players in football history.
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