With his goal in Inter Miami’s Concacaf Champions Cup game against Nashville SC, Argentine football icon Lionel Messi became just the second player in history to reach 900 goals in elite competition.

In the seventh minute of the Concacaf Champions Cup last-16 second-leg encounter against Nashville at Geodis Park, Messi scored his 900th goal in his professional career.

Additionally, the Argentine has eight goals in the Concacaf Champions Cup and ten direct goal contributions for Inter Miami CF (eight goals and two assists). Only Angel Sepúlveda (11) has more goal involvement than him since he started competing.

Cristiano Ronaldo, a longtime opponent, was included in a prestigious group with the Miami captain. At the age of 41, Ronaldo surpassed 900 goals after scoring for Portugal against Croatia in September 2024.

Only Messi and Ronaldo, who have won the Ballon d’Or between them 13 times, have ever scored 900 goals in the history of the men’s game.

The 38-year-old Argentine striker has also had a fantastic career, scoring many goals for FC Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, and Argentina and earning eight Ballon d’Or awards. With 79 goals for Barcelona and 12 for Argentina, he broke the record for the most goals scored in a calendar year in 2012 (91). In only 123 games, he became the quickest player to score 100 Champions League goals.

Although Messi scored a historic goal, Inter Miami was eliminated from the Concacaf Champions Cup after the aggregate score remained tied at 1-1, but Nashville moved on due to the away goals rule. Nashville SC had a little advantage going into the second leg if they could score an away goal after the scoreless draw in the first leg.

In the seventh minute, Messi scored the game’s opening goal by beating Brian Schwake with a left-footed shot, giving Inter Miami a 1-0 lead overall.

With 74 minutes remaining in the game, Cristian Espinoza gave the visitors the equalizer by converting a half-volley inside the penalty area to win the series. Espinoza was selected as the game’s Best Player due to his play.

Nashville SC reached the quarterfinals, which is the team’s all-time high in the Concacaf Champions Cup.

The victor of the Club America versus Philadelphia Union series is awaited by the MLS team.