Lionel Messi Nears Free-Kick Record After Four-Goal Haul for Inter Miami
Lionel Messi has moved closer to the all-time free-kick scoring record following a stellar performance for Inter Miami. The milestone comes alongside the player's announcement that he has retired from international football.
Football icon Lionel Messi has officially announced his retirement from international football, marking the end of a historic chapter for his national team career. The announcement arrives as the player continues to break and chase remarkable scoring milestones at the club level with Inter Miami.
During a recent fixture against Montreal, Inter Miami secured a resounding 7-1 victory. Argentine star Lionel Messi played a central role in the dominant win, delivering a sensational individual performance by finding the back of the net four times during the match.
Two of those goals came directly from set-pieces, showcasing Messi's enduring elite proficiency from dead-ball situations. These successful strikes elevate his total career goals scored directly from free-kicks to a remarkable 74, further cementing his legacy as one of the greatest dead-ball specialists in the history of the sport.
With this latest tally of 74 free-kick goals, Lionel Messi now shares the second position on the all-time free-kick goalscorers list alongside Brazilian football legend Jair Rosa Pinto, who also amassed 74 goals from free-kicks during his illustrious career.
The broader historical ranking features numerous legendary names in world football. Among them are Marcelinho Carioca leading with 78 free-kick goals, followed by Roberto Dinamite with 73, Juninho Pernambucano with 72, Marcos Assuncao with 68, Sinisa Mihajlovic with 67, and George Aravena with 65.
Further down the esteemed statistical ledger compiled by publications such as El Grafico are modern rival Cristiano Ronaldo with 64 free-kick goals, Zico with 62, and the late Diego Maradona with 61 goals from direct free-kicks throughout their respective football journeys.
