How Many Goals Has Messi Scored in His Career?

By Sarah Miller · October 12, 2047

Lionel Messi has scored over 850 official goals in his professional football career, making him one of the highest goal scorers in the history of the sport.

Breaking Down Lionel Messi's Goal-Scoring Career

Messi's remarkable goal tally spans club and international competitions across multiple leagues and tournaments. His consistency, technical brilliance, and longevity have allowed him to maintain elite scoring levels for nearly two decades.

Key Phases of Messi's Career

FC Barcelona (2004–2021): The majority of his goals were scored during his tenure with Barcelona, where he rose from a youth prospect to the club’s all-time top scorer.
Paris Saint-Germain (2021–2023): A shorter stint marked by adaptation and key contributions in high-stakes matches.
Inter Miami (2023–present): Continuing his legacy in Major League Soccer with impactful performances despite being in the latter stage of his career.
Argentina National Team (2005–present): Integral in ending Argentina’s trophy drought, including winning the FIFA World Cup 2022.

Official Goals by Club and Country

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Team	Period	Competitions	Goals	Appearances
FC Barcelona	2004–2021	La Liga, Copa del Rey, Champions League, etc.	678	778
Paris Saint-Germain	2021–2023	Ligue 1, Champions League, Coupe de France	75
Inter Miami	2023–2025	MLS, Leagues Cup, CONCACAF Champions Cup	39
Argentina	2005–2025	World Cup, Copa América, Friendlies, WCQ	180
Total (Official)	2004–2025	All Competitions	840+	1072

Table data source:1, 2, 3, 4, 5

The data shows Messi scored the vast majority of his goals at FC Barcelona, where he averaged over 0.87 goals per game. His international tally of 106 goals is the highest among South American men's players. Even in MLS, Messi maintains a strong scoring rate, demonstrating his enduring quality.

Types of Goals and Scoring Methods

Messi’s goals come from various sources, reflecting his versatility:

Left foot: Over 70% of his goals are scored with his dominant left foot.
Free kicks: He has over 60 career goals from direct free kicks.
Penalties: Messi has converted more than 100 penalty kicks at senior level.
Right foot & headers: While less frequent, he has numerous goals using both.

Major Records and Milestones

Most goals in a single calendar year: 91 goals in 2012 (Guinness World Record).
All-time top scorer in La Liga: 474 goals.
Only player with 10+ seasons scoring 40+ goals in Europe.
First player to score in 15 consecutive UEFA Champions League seasons.
Top scorer in El Clásico history: 26 goals.

Frequently Asked Questions About Messi's Career Goals

How many goals has Messi scored for Argentina?

Messi has scored 106 goals in 180 appearances for the Argentina national team as of 2025, making him the country’s all-time leading scorer.

Has Messi scored more goals than Ronaldo?

No, Cristiano Ronaldo holds the record for most official goals in men's football with over 880. Messi's tally of 840+ places him second all-time, though comparisons vary by source.

How many hat-tricks does Messi have in his career?

Messi has recorded 57 hat-tricks at the senior level, including 54 for clubs and 3 for Argentina, ranking him among the leaders in football history.

What was Messi's highest-scoring season?

Messi's highest-scoring season was 2011–2012, when he scored 73 goals for Barcelona. However, his record 91 goals came in the calendar year 2012 across all competitions.