Messi’s Five-Goal Start: Inter Miami’s Captain Already Halfway to History

Inter Miami captain Lionel Messi has opened his 2026 account with a flourish, scoring five of the club’s ten goals across all competitions and, in the process, moving to within striking distance of the most prolific free-kick record in football.

The latest strike came Sunday at Yankee Stadium, where the Herons trailed New York City FC 2–1 in the 61st minute. Messi stepped over a dead ball, whipped a dipping effort that took a slight deflection, and squeezed it past U.S. international goalkeeper Matt Freese to level the match. The goal—his 71st career free-kick conversion—lifted him past Brazilian icon Pelé and into second place on the sport’s all-time list.

While the finish lacked the customary Messi elegance, its historical weight was undeniable. The Argentine now sits six behind Brazilian specialist Juninho Pernambucano’s benchmark of 77, a target well within reach given Inter Miami’s congested schedule: nearly a full MLS season, this summer’s World Cup, and two additional years on his current deal.

Micael’s stoppage-time winner completed the 3–2 comeback and kept the defending MLS Cup champions in the Eastern Conference hunt, level with Pascal Jansen’s side on ten points and three behind leaders Nashville SC.

After the match, head coach Javier Mascherano underlined Messi’s centrality to the club’s ambitions. “Clearly, he is a vital player for us if we are to achieve our objectives,” Mascherano said. “Quite frankly, without him, it would be impossible for us to reach the goals we have set for ourselves.”

Those goals now center on domestic silverware. Miami’s early exit from the Concacaf Champions Cup—where Messi scored the team’s lone goal over two legs against Nashville—has sharpened focus on a potential Leagues Cup and MLS Cup double in 2026.

With five goals already to his name, Messi has shown that even at 38, his capacity to decide matches—and rewrite record books—remains undimmed.