Lionel Messi is closing in on another piece of football history after moving within two goals of the all-time direct free kick record.
The 39-year-old scored a spectacular set piece for Inter Miami against Columbus Crew on Sunday, September 27, curling the ball into the far top corner from an almost impossible angle.
With the ball positioned wide on the right, Messi appeared set to deliver a cross. Instead, he went directly for goal, bending his left foot effort over the wall and beyond the reach of Columbus goalkeeper Patrick Schulte.
The goal was Messi’s 76th career direct free kick, leaving him two short of Brazilian great Marcelinho Carioca’s record of 78.
Messi had moved into outright second place just days earlier after scoring his 75th free kick against San Diego FC.
That effort also came from outside the penalty area, with Messi curling the ball around the wall and off the post before it crossed the line.
Published tallies credit Messi with 50 direct free kicks for Barcelona, 12 for Argentina, 12 for Inter Miami and two for Paris Saint-Germain.
The latest strike adds to a season in which Messi remains among the leading contenders for the 2026 Ballon d’Or, with the award ceremony approaching.
He now needs two more direct free kicks to equal Marcelinho Carioca’s record and three to become the outright record holder.
