Lionel Messi has added another record to his remarkable career after becoming the player with the most goals scored in football finals, according to the official Ballon d’Or website.
The Argentine reached the milestone during Inter Miami’s 2-0 victory over Cruz Azul in the 2026 Campeones Cup. Messi opened the scoring with a header as the MLS champions defeated their Liga MX counterparts to claim another trophy.
The goal took Messi’s total number of goals in finals to 36 from 53 appearances. He has also provided 18 assists in those matches, giving him 54 direct goal contributions in finals throughout his career.
Messi’s latest achievement came alongside another significant milestone for the 39-year-old, who has now scored 100 goals for Inter Miami since joining the club in 2023.
The former Barcelona and Argentina captain has reached the century mark in just 115 appearances for the Major League Soccer side. His record for the club now stands at 100 goals and 57 assists, giving him 157 direct goal contributions.
His influence has also coincided with a period of unprecedented success for Inter Miami. Since his arrival in the United States, the club has lifted four major trophies.
Messi’s first title with Miami came in the 2023 Leagues Cup, before the club added the 2024 MLS Supporters’ Shield, 2025 MLS Cup and 2026 Campeones Cup.
Those four trophies have contributed to Messi’s career haul of 48 titles, placing him ahead of several other decorated players on the all-time list. Brazilian defenders Marquinhos and Dani Alves are next with 43 trophies each.
The latest record also comes as Messi remains among the nominees for the 2026 Ballon d’Or. Despite being in the latter stages of his career, the Argentine continues to add personal milestones while helping Inter Miami compete for silverware.
His performance against Cruz Azul therefore represented more than another trophy for Miami, with the final also providing the stage for Messi to extend a record that now stands alone in football history.
