Lionel Messi becomes second-ever player to reach 800 career goals

Lionel Messi became the second-ever player to reach 800 goals with a goal in Argentina’s 2-0 win over Panama on Thursday. Cristiano Ronaldo, who holds the all-time record for career goals (830), is the only other player that has reached 800 goals.

Messi’s goal came from a direct free kick that found the top right corner of Panama’s net.

Messi’s next milestone is 100 goals for Argentina, which is something no player in Argentina’s history has ever done. After scoring on Thursday, he sits at 99, which is still the most in Argentina’s rich history. Messi has been Argentina’s all-time leading goalscorer since 2016, when he scored against the United States from a free kick in the Copa América Centenario.

At the club level, Messi has scored 701 goals, including 493 in domestic league play. With two more goal contributions (a goal or an assist) at the club level, Messi will become the first player to ever reach 1,000 goal contributions.

Messi has made 173 senior appearances for Argentina in his career. In 2022, he won his first-ever FIFA World Cup and Argentina’s first since 1986.

Argentina will play its next match on Tuesday against Curaçao.

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