Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have defined an era in global soccer, pushing each other to unprecedented heights for nearly two decades. With his latest goal against Minnesota United FC, the Inter Miami star has once again pulled ahead in one key category—reaching a remarkable scoring milestone faster than his longtime rival.
The Herons traveled to Minnesota for Matchday 12 of the 2025 MLS season looking to climb back into the league’s top positions. However, things didn’t go according to plan, as Inter Miami endured their worst defeat with Messi on the field.
Minnesota took control early, scoring twice in the first half. Shortly after the break, Messi finished off a sharp attacking move with a goal off a pinpoint cross from Jordi Alba to cut the deficit. But the hosts responded with two more goals, handing Miami a heavy 4–1 loss.
Messi sets historic goal milestone despite defeat
Despite the result, Messi’s lone goal was historic. With it, he became the fastest player in history to reach 860 official career goals. While both he and Cristiano Ronaldo are the only players to reach that mark, Messi hit it earlier—and did so more efficiently.
Ronaldo notched his 860th goal with a stunning free kick during Al Nassr’s 2–1 win over Damac in the Saudi Pro League on October 21, 2023. He was 38 years old and playing in his 1,189th official match.
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Messi, by comparison, scored his 860th goal in his 1,098th game—91 matches fewer than Ronaldo. He also did it at age 37, nearly a year younger than Ronaldo at the time of his achievement.
The two legends continue to lead the all-time scoring charts. Ronaldo stands at 934 goals in 1,276 official matches (0.73 goals per game), while Messi now has 860 in 1,098 (0.78 goals per game). As the Portuguese star continues his pursuit of the 1,000-goal milestone, both players remain active and historic figures in the twilight of their careers.
