By Opeyemi Adelakun
Lionel Messi has moved closer to the all-time record for direct free-kick goals after scoring a stunning set-piece for Inter Miami in their 2-1 defeat to Columbus Crew on Sunday.
The 39-year-old Argentine produced a remarkable effort from a difficult angle in the 33rd minute to cancel out Josef Martínez’s early opener for Columbus.
With the free-kick awarded close to the right touchline, Messi opted against delivering the ball into the penalty area. Instead, the Inter Miami captain curled his left-footed effort over the defensive wall and into the far top corner, leaving goalkeeper Patrick Schulte with no chance.
The strike took Messi’s career tally of direct free-kick goals in official matches to 76, according to football transfer expert Fabrizio Romano.
Although Messi’s goal restored parity, Columbus eventually secured all three points with a stoppage-time winner to complete a 2-1 victory.
Messi’s 76 free-kick goals have come during his spells with Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, Inter Miami and the Argentina national team.
The latest goal puts him two behind the 78 attributed to Brazilian great Marcelinho Carioca, who is widely credited with the highest total.
Messi has enjoyed a particularly productive period from dead-ball situations in 2026. He had previously reached 75 with a goal against San Diego FC before scoring twice from free-kicks in Inter Miami’s 7-1 victory over CF Montréal.
He also scored free-kicks against Orlando City and New York City FC, while adding another for Argentina against Jordan at the World Cup.
The latest effort further underlines Messi’s effectiveness from set pieces late in his career.
He has scored 50 direct free-kicks for Barcelona, more than a dozen for Argentina, with further strikes coming since his move to Inter Miami in 2023.
His overall career goal tally has now climbed beyond 931.
However, historical free-kick statistics vary depending on the criteria used by different record compilers. Some records place Brazilian free-kick specialist Juninho Pernambucano on 77 goals.
Recent tallies, however, widely list Marcelinho Carioca with 78 and Messi with 76 following his latest goal against Columbus.
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