NEW YORK (BN24) — Lionel Messi has once again edged ahead of his longtime football rival, Cristiano Ronaldo — this time by surpassing the Portuguese forward in non-penalty career goals. The milestone came during Inter Miami’s emphatic 5-1 win over the New York Red Bulls, where Messi netted a second-half brace and added another chapter to the sport’s most storied rivalry.
Messi’s two goals on Saturday night elevated his career total to 764 non-penalty goals, eclipsing Ronaldo’s 763. Though Ronaldo still holds the lead in overall goals scored, Messi now sits alone atop the all-time chart for goals scored from open play — a statistic often cited as a truer reflection of natural scoring prowess.
The Argentine star also assisted Jordi Alba’s first-half goal and currently leads Major League Soccer in scoring with 18 goals this season. The performance marked his sixth brace in the past seven MLS matches.
The 37-year-old Argentine showed no signs of slowing down. In the 60th minute, he rounded the Red Bulls’ goalkeeper and calmly slotted the ball into the empty net. Fifteen minutes later, Messi showcased his technical brilliance again, receiving a pinpoint cross from Luis Suárez, cushioning it with his first touch, and burying it in the top corner.
While the individual accolade added more fuel to the Messi-Ronaldo rivalry, Messi’s impact on Inter Miami continues to grow. With 27 goal contributions so far this season — the most of any MLS player — he’s quickly becoming one of the most dominant forces the league has seen. He also became just the fifth player in MLS history to reach at least 35 goals and 25 assists across two seasons.
Inter Miami’s win came after a shaky start, trailing 1-0 in the 15th minute. But Messi’s assist and brace helped spark a turnaround, with Telasco Segovia adding two goals of his own. The Herons now sit fifth in the Eastern Conference with 41 points from 21 games and remain in contention for the Supporters’ Shield.
Though the Ballon d’Or battles may be behind them, Messi and Ronaldo remain locked in a silent duel over legacy. With Ronaldo expected to continue playing with Al Nassr for another two seasons, and Messi committed to at least one more year in MLS, their rivalry still has room to evolve — and records still left to break.
