Lionel Messi's incredible time in Major League Soccer keeps rolling. In Inter Miami’s recent battle against Nashville SC, the legendary Argentine once again delivered, scoring twice and making it five straight MLS matches with a multi-goal performance.
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The first goal came early off a beautiful free kick, a moment that had fans buzzing not just for its brilliance, but because it brought Messi even closer to a long-standing global record. The second came after a goalkeeping error, which Messi calmly punished, helping Inter Miami edge past a resilient Nashville side.
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With his latest free-kick strike, Messi now has 69 career goals from dead-ball situations. That puts him just eight shy of equaling Brazilian legend Juninho Pernambucano, who owns the current record of 77.
Juninho carved out his free-kick legacy with French club Lyon, where he helped the team capture seven straight Ligue 1 titles. Over his career, Juninho racked up 44 free-kick goals in Ligue 1 alone, with others coming during his time at Vasco da Gama and Al-Gharafa. His technique and power made him the standard for dead-ball precision until now.
While Messi wasn’t always the main free-kick taker at Barcelona in his early years, he gradually honed the craft. Now, it's become a lethal part of his arsenal.
And at 37, with physical attributes naturally shifting, Messi appears to be evolving. He’s more patient, more methodical, and more dangerous on set pieces than ever before.
Nashville's Hany Mukhtar temporarily leveled the score in the second half, but Messi was quick to respond. After capitalizing on a defensive lapse, he tucked away his second goal of the night. His finishing instincts remain razor sharp.
Age hasn’t slowed his impact. Instead, he’s changed his game. Not relying on constant dribbles and bursts as much anymore, Messi now controls the rhythm and danger with smarter movement and sharper execution. His free-kick mastery might soon put him atop another all-time list, one that once seemed untouchable.
If Messi continues this pace, breaking the record could happen before the MLS season ends. And with the 2026 World Cup on the horizon, there’s speculation that he may have one more chapter left with Argentina. His play suggests he's more than ready with 16 goals in 16 matches.
Another match, another milestone. Lionel Messi's greatness shows no signs of slowing.