Lionel Messi just dropped another absolute bomb on Sunday, curling in his SEVENTY-SIXTH career goal from a free kick. That’s right, number 10 for Inter Miami is now breathing down the neck of record-holder Marcelinho Carioca, and it feels like the history books are about to get a serious rewrite. This landmark moment, the 931st celebration of Messi’s incredible career, came in Inter Miami’s MLS loss to Columbus Crew, and man, what a strike it was.
Messi Is Chasing History, One Scream at a Time
The goal itself? An absolute screamer! The Columbus keeper, Patrick Schulte, did everything he possibly could, stretching, diving, probably even praying, but Messi’s shot just had too much juice, too much curve, too much pure genius to be stopped. Earlier in the game, Josef Martinez, who used to play for the Florida franchise back in 2023, put the home side ahead from the penalty spot in the 28th minute. But when Inter Miami won a free kick, everyone knew what was coming. Messi stepped up, unleashed that magic left foot, and the rest is basically just another chapter in the legend. He’s now just two goals shy of Marcelinho Carioca’s official record of 78, though the former Corinthians idol’s personal count sits even higher at 86. This isn’t just a random stat, folks, this is a chase for a global record, currently dominated by Brazilian legends like Jair Rosa Pinto, Dinamite, and Juninho. Messi and the late, great Serbian legend Siniša Mihajlović are the only “outsiders” on that elite list.
Drama, Debuts, and Disappointments in Ohio
Beyond the Messi magic, the game against Columbus Crew was a wild ride with plenty of ups and downs. The second half even saw a potential Inter Miami comeback, with David Ayala finding the net, only for it to be heartbreakingly disallowed for offside. There was also a notable debut for Palmeiras academy product Riquelme Fillipi, a $5.5 million signing, who stepped onto the pitch for Messi’s team in the 72nd minute. The rest of the second half saw a fairly balanced affair, with neither side creating too many clear-cut chances. However, the negative highlight for Miami had to be American midfielder Santiago Morales. Coming off the bench in the 87th minute, he managed to get booked in the 90th and then incredibly sent off in the 93rd. Ouch. To twist the knife even further, Jamal Thiare sealed the home win for Columbus in the 98th minute, taking advantage of a mistake by Rocco Ríos.
That loss left Inter Miami holding onto third place in the Eastern Conference with 46 points. Columbus Crew, with their win, jumped up to 12th place with 29 points. Up at the very top, Nashville SC is absolutely flying, leading the conference with 60 points and already having punched their ticket to the playoffs. For Messi and Inter Miami, every game now is about building momentum and securing their own spot in the postseason. You just know Messi is going to keep pushing, and that free-kick record is absolutely within reach.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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