After being held scoreless in his first two outings of the year, Lionel Messi has finally opened his 2026 account. The goal came during Inter Miami’s final South American friendly against Ecuador’s Barcelona SC, part of the club’s high-profile “Champions Tour”.
The Argentine superstar picked up the ball near midfield and charged toward the box, weaving past two defenders with his trademark close control. Messi then unleashed a powerful left-footed strike to break the deadlock and give the Herons a 1-0 lead.
The fact that the Argentine has found the scoresheet is a massive boost for Inter Miami. Having previously struggled for a breakthrough in a 3-0 loss to Alianza Lima and a 2-1 win over Atletico Nacional, the captain’s strike suggests he is finding his rhythm just in time for the MLS season opener on February 21.
However, the lead was short-lived as the hosts responded before the break. Joao Rojas capitalized on a cross from Johan García to head home the equalizer in the 41st minute, ensuring the teams headed into halftime level at 1-1. Just before the whistle, marquee signing German Berterame reportedly restored the lead for the Herons, making it 2-1 at the break.
Messi stays in the hunt for 1,000 career goals
Following his goal in Guayaquil, Messi continues his steady climb toward one of soccer most elusive records. Now sitting at 897 official goals, the Inter Miami captain remains focused on the quadruple-digit mark. However, his long-time rival, Cristiano Ronaldo, currently leads the race to become the first player in history to reach the milestone.
The Al Nassr forward has already tallied 961 career goals. What once seemed impossible now appears inevitable, as the Portuguese star needs only 39 more goals to reach the 1,000-mark.
However, while Ronaldo may be the first to cross the finish line, he likely won’t be the only one. Inter Miami haveextended Messi’s contract through 2028, providing him with a significant runway to close the gap. To reach 1,000, Messi would need to average roughly 52 goals per season over the next two years—a high bar, but one that the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner has cleared multiple times throughout his legendary career.