Lionel Messi, forward for Inter Miami, reached 936 career goals by scoring two goals in a 3–1 victory over Atlanta United. Now at age 39, Messi's goal tally prompts comparisons with Cristiano Ronaldo at the same age.
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On February 5, 2024, Cristiano Ronaldo celebrated his 39th birthday with 873 official career goals from 1,204 appearances. By his 40th birthday a year later, he had increased his total to 923 goals in 1,254 matches, netting 50 goals during that year.
Messi turned 39 on June 24, 2026, with 916 career goals. Since then, he has scored 20 more goals to reach his current total of 936, with several months and games still remaining before he turns 40.
A significant factor moving forward is their international availability. Messi has retired from the Argentina national team, limiting his opportunities to score in international matches. He will now continue to add to his total through games with Inter Miami.
Cristiano Ronaldo is currently only 19 goals away from reaching 1,000 career goals and is projected to reach this milestone depending on his continued playing time. Despite being further away from 1,000 than Ronaldo, Messi, who is over two years younger, has a better goals-per-game ratio, keeping the competition for this landmark open.