Lionel Messi has brought his Argentina career to an end, announcing his retirement from international football on Monday, August 31. The 39-year-old leaves the national team after nearly two decades, six World Cup appearances and a trophy cabinet that includes the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Messi also led Argentina to the 2026 World Cup final, where they lost to Spain.
However, Messi’s retirement is from international football, not the sport altogether. He remains a player for Inter Miami in Major League Soccer, meaning his pursuit of one of football’s most extraordinary milestones — 1,000 career goals — is still alive.
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And that race continues to place Messi alongside his greatest modern rival, Cristiano Ronaldo.
Ronaldo leads Messi in career goals
As of August 30, Ronaldo has scored 978 career goals in 1,333 appearances, while Messi has 927 goals in 1,171 matches. That leaves Ronaldo 51 goals ahead of Messi in the overall career tally.
Ronaldo therefore needs just 22 more goals to reach 1,000, while Messi requires another 73.
The Portuguese star strengthened his position after scoring for Al Nassr against Al-Taawoun on Friday, taking his tally to 978. Messi, meanwhile, produced a spectacular response the following day, scoring four goals and providing an assist as Inter Miami thrashed Montreal 7-1. That performance took him to 927.
Messi has the better goals-per-game rate
While Ronaldo has the advantage in total goals, Messi has reached his tally in significantly fewer matches.
Ronaldo has played 162 more games than Messi — 1,333 compared with 1,171. Yet Messi’s goals-per-game rate is higher.
Messi is averaging approximately 0.79 goals per game, compared with Ronaldo’s 0.73.
That statistic adds another layer to one of football’s most enduring debates. Ronaldo has produced the greater volume of goals, but Messi has done so with fewer appearances and a slightly better scoring rate.
The road to 1,000
Ronaldo is now within touching distance of becoming the first player to reach 1,000 official senior career goals. His 978-goal tally leaves him only 22 short of the landmark.
Messi’s four-goal performance against Montreal, however, showed that he is not disappearing from the race. The Argentine is now on 927 and needs 73 more.
The difference between the two legends has also narrowed considerably in recent years, with Messi continuing to score at an impressive rate even at 39.
For Ronaldo, the immediate target is clear: 22 goals to 1,000.
For Messi, the challenge is considerably larger: 73 goals.
Yet Messi’s international retirement does not necessarily mean the end of the rivalry. With both players still active at club level, their remarkable scoring race could continue for some time.
After conquering international football with Argentina, Messi now enters the final chapter of his playing career — while Ronaldo remains on the verge of a milestone that could further cement his extraordinary goalscoring legacy.
