Lionel Messi added another entry to his long list of achievements on March 22, 2026. The 38-year-old converted a direct free-kick in Inter Miami's 3-2 victory over New York City, a strike that is recorded as his 71st free-kick goal in professional competition. That number moves him past the total attributed to Pelé, long considered a benchmark for set-piece excellence.

How the goal happened

The free-kick came in the 61st minute. Messi struck the ball and, after a rebound, it crossed the line past goalkeeper Matt Freese, who plays for the United States national team. The goal leveled the score at 2-2 before Inter Miami completed the comeback.

Which records matter now

According to historical tallies, Pelé had been credited with 70 free-kick goals in his career. With this latest strike, Messi has overtaken that figure. Media outlets noted the milestone, but there is still a higher benchmark to chase.

Juninho sits on top

The all-time record for free-kick goals is held by Juninho Pernambucano, who scored 77 direct free-kick goals during his career with clubs such as Sport Recife, Vasco da Gama, Lyon, Al-Gharafa, and New York Red Bulls. Messi is currently seven free-kick goals short of matching Juninho and eight short of breaking the record.

Messi's overall scoring context

Messi recently hit the milestone of 900 career goals and is listed at 901 goals in the counts referenced alongside this record. Counting goals across eras and competitions is messy: official FIFA-match totals list Pelé with 757 goals, some sources give him 767, and Pelé himself claimed a much larger tally of 1,283 in his lifetime count.

Quick facts

  • Messi's age: 38 years.
  • Free-kick goals for Messi: 71.
  • Free-kick goals for Pelé: 70 (widely reported figure).
  • Juninho's record: 77 free-kick goals.
  • Match: Inter Miami 3 - 2 New York City.

Bottom line: Messi has just surpassed Pelé in one specific category and now has a clear target in sight. If he keeps striking them this well, the chase for Juninho's crown will be one of the more entertaining stats to follow this season.