In Miami’s late-season heat, Lionel Messi found another route into the record books before leaving Inter Miami to join Argentina. His curling free-kick against Columbus Crew brought his career total from direct set pieces to 76, placing him just two behind Brazilian specialist Marcelinho Carioca.
A response from an unlikely angle
Inter Miami were behind after Josef Martínez converted a penalty for Columbus when Messi was presented with a free-kick from a tight position near the corner of the penalty area. It appeared set up for a delivery into the box, but the Argentine instead chose the goal.
With his left foot, Messi lifted the ball over the defensive line and toward the far post. It dropped into the inside of the net beyond goalkeeper Patrick Schulte, drawing Miami level in the MLS match.
- Messi scored directly from the free-kick against Columbus Crew.
- The strike made the score level after Martínez’s penalty had put Columbus ahead.
- Schulte was unable to reach the shot as it fell inside the far side of the goal.
- It was Messi’s 76th career free-kick goal.
Marcelinho’s mark comes into view
Marcelinho Carioca remains ahead in the direct free-kick standings with 78 goals, but Messi has moved within two of that figure. The Inter Miami captain has continued to produce from dead-ball situations with striking regularity.
Four of Messi’s most recent eight goals have come from set pieces. That sequence includes a free-kick against San Diego and two more during his four-goal display against Montreal.
Another milestone before Argentina duty
The Columbus goal also took Messi to 931 senior career goals for club and country. During 2026, he has already scored free-kicks against Jordan at the World Cup, as well as against New York City and Orlando in the first half of the year.
The Columbus fixture was Messi’s last official Inter Miami appearance before his return to Argentina’s camp. He now heads back to the national side coached by Lionel Scaloni after adding further minutes and goals to his MLS campaign.
