Argentine superstar Lionel Messi surpassed long-term rival Cristiano Ronaldo’s record for most non-penalty goals following his brace for Inter Miami and NY Red Bulls in the MLS on Sunday.
Messi notched up his 764th non-penalty goal in his illustrious career to surpass the Portuguese talisman Ronaldo’s record of 763 strikes. Remarkably, the World Cup-winner achieved the feat in 167 fewer games. Messi netted a brace, his sixth in the previous seven MLS games, against NY Red Bulls on Monday as the Herons coasted to a 5-1 win over the hosts at the Red Bull Arena.
Messi levelled Ronaldo’s record with his first strike of the day in the 60th minute of the game, before shattering the Portuguese player’s tally with his second of the day in the 75th minute as he helped his side over the line.
Messi pulled off a trademark run to get past the opposition defensive setup, in addition to rounding the keeper, before slotting the ball into the empty net as he gave the Hernons a 4-1 lead.
He put the last nail in NY’s coffin as he brought down a cross into the area with his chest before guiding it past a hapless custodian to make it 5-1. The win helped Miami bounce back from a 0-3 defeat at the hands of Cincinnati, in which Messi’s run of braces in five-straight game was snipped.
Messi became the first player in league history to score more than one goal in five consecutive regular-season matches, thanks to his brace against Nashville.
The Argentine World Cup winner opened the scoring with a free kick in the first half, giving the Miami-based team a slim one-goal lead at halftime. However, Nashville equalized early in the second half through Mukhtar, leveling the score against David Beckham’s side.
Messi ensured that the Herons secured all three points by intercepting a pass from the opposition goalkeeper, rounding him, and slotting the ball into the net past a sliding defender.
Messi’s streak of scoring two goals in a match began with Miami’s 4-2 victory over Montreal and continued with his double against Columbus in a 5-1 win. The Argentine World Cup winner maintained his form upon returning to MLS action after the team’s participation in the revamped edition of the FIFA Club World Cup 2025. He scored twice again in Miami’s 4-1 triumph over Montreal before his performance against New England Revolution, where he netted twice in a 2-1 win.
