Lionel Andrés Messi, Inter Miami forward and Argentina captain, Miami, September 21, 2026, delivered a landmark moment as the Lionel Messi 930th goal helped secure a 2-2 draw against San Diego FC in a fiercely contested Major League Soccer encounter.
San Diego FC took an early lead in the 12th minute when Danish winger Anders Dreyer finished a well-weighted through pass from Jeppe Tverskov, delicately lifting the ball over goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair.
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The momentum shifted in the 24th minute when Lionel Messi won a free-kick just outside the penalty area and produced a moment of brilliance. The 39-year-old curled a precise left-footed strike around the defensive wall, with the ball glancing off the post before crossing the line beyond CJ dos Santos.
The Lionel Messi 930th goal also marked his 75th career free-kick and his 20th goal of the 2026 MLS season, reinforcing his enduring influence at the highest level of the game.
Football transfer expert Fabrizio Romano noted the milestone on X, stating, “Lionel Messi has now reached 930 career goals… by scoring his 75th free kick goal. 101 goals wearing Inter Miami shirt.”
Inter Miami edged ahead in the 74th minute when Uruguayan striker Luis Suárez found the net, continuing a productive attacking partnership that has defined the club’s recent rise in MLS.
However, San Diego FC responded with resilience. Anders Dreyer struck again in the 82nd minute, securing a deserved equaliser and completing a brace that underlined the visitors’ attacking threat.
The result extended Inter Miami’s run to four consecutive league draws, leaving the Florida side with 46 points from 26 matches, comprising 12 wins, four defeats and 10 draws.
Despite the dropped points, Lionel Messi remains central to Inter Miami’s campaign. The milestone adds to a remarkable period that recently saw Lionel Messi surpass 100 goals for the club during a Campeones Cup victory over Cruz Azul, highlighting both consistency and longevity.
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At 39, Lionel Messi continues to deliver decisive contributions in key moments, blending experience with precision in a way that keeps Inter Miami competitive in a tightly contested MLS season.
