Messi breaks another Ronaldo record

Argentine legend Lionel Messi once again displayed his footballing brilliance as he guided Inter Miami to a resounding 5-1 victory over the New York Red Bulls on Sunday. The superstar not only scored two goals but also provided two assists, playing a direct role in four of the five goals. With this dominant performance, Messi etched his name into the history books by breaking yet another record previously held by his long-time rival Cristiano Ronaldo—most non-penalty goals in professional football.

The match didn’t begin in Miami’s favor, as they fell behind in the 15th minute. But the setback was short-lived. Messi’s genius came alive when he delivered a stunning pass that pierced through several Red Bulls defenders, setting up Jordi Alba to score the equalizer in the 24th minute. That assist added to Messi’s incredible streak of directly contributing to 30 or more goals every calendar year since 2007, across stints at Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, and now Inter Miami. This remarkable consistency across 19 straight years underscores the longevity and impact of his legendary career.

Just minutes later, Messi was again at the heart of the action. Another intelligent pass from him found Alba, who set up Venezuelan midfielder Telasco Segovia for Miami’s second goal. Segovia struck again in first-half stoppage time, giving Miami a comfortable 3-1 lead going into the break. It was vintage Messi—dictating the rhythm, unlocking defenses, and uplifting the entire squad with his vision and presence.

Messi’s magic didn’t end there. In the 60th minute, a long ball from Sergio Busquets found him sprinting behind the defense. With his trademark composure, Messi rounded the goalkeeper and slotted it home for his first goal of the match. Then, in the 75th minute, Luis Suárez delivered a brilliant cross into the box. Messi brought the ball down with his chest before firing it past the goalkeeper with a powerful left-footed shot, registering his second goal of the night and cementing Miami’s dominance.

That goal was historic—it took Messi’s tally of non-penalty goals in professional football to 764, surpassing Cristiano Ronaldo’s previous record of 763. While Ronaldo still holds the overall record with 938 goals (including penalties), Messi now leads the list of pure goal scorers without spot-kick advantages. Even more remarkably, Messi has achieved this feat while playing 167 fewer matches than Ronaldo, a testament to his incredible efficiency and finishing ability. As both continue to play, this record might continue to swap hands, but Messi’s current edge is a significant milestone in their storied rivalry.

The evening also saw Messi add another feather to his MLS cap. With his contributions, he became only the fifth player in Major League Soccer history to record at least 35 goals and 25 assists over the span of two seasons. The exclusive club includes notable names like Robbie Keane, Sebastian Giovinco, Carlos Vela, and Cucho Hernandez. This achievement reaffirms Messi’s transformative impact in the United States, both as a scorer and a creator.

In total, Messi now boasts 874 career goals—a number that continues to rise as he dazzles fans worldwide. His performance against the Red Bulls was yet another reminder that even in the twilight of his career, Messi continues to redefine excellence. Whether it’s breaking records, winning games, or uniting teammates with his passing and vision, Lionel Messi remains football’s ultimate standard-bearer.