Lionel Messi Overtakes Pelé For Most Career Free‑Kick Goals

Lionel Messi Overtakes Pelé for Most Career Free‑Kick Goals Eyes on Juninho’s All‑Time Record Argentina and Inter Miami superstar Lionel Messi has surpassed Brazilian legend Pelé in the tally of career free‑kick goals, cementing his status as one of football’s all‑time dead‑ball specialists and edging closer to the long‑standing record held by Juninho Pernambucano.

Messi scored his 71st career free‑kick goal a spectacular direct effort during Inter Miami’s 3‑2 win over New York City FC in the MLS, moving him past Pelé’s tally of 70 free‑kick goals in official records. This milestone also marked Messi’s 901st career goal across club and international competition, underlining his enduring excellence in multiple scoring facets of the game. According to current historical rankings of direct free‑kick goals, the top figures stand as Messi’s move into second place places him ahead of other legends of the game and shows both his longevity and consistency from dead‑ball situations.

The all‑time leader in free‑kick goals, Juninho Pernambucano, scored 77 direct free‑kick goals over the course of his professional career a record widely recognised among statisticians and historians. With Messi currently six free‑kick goals shy of Juninho’s mark, the question among fans and pundits is whether he can surpass that number before the end of his playing career.

• Yes Messi has the technical ability, longevity, and set‑piece mastery to reach and break Juninho’s record, especially if he continues playing at a high level for several more seasons.
• No Others argue that scoring another six direct free‑kicks at the elite level is far from guaranteed, particularly as opportunities diminish with age and tactical matchups change.

Messi’s rise atop the modern free‑kick charts underscores both his overall scoring versatility and his specialized technical skill in set‑pieces — an area of the game historically dominated by a handful of legendary dead‑ball kickers. His continued pursuit of Juninho’s record adds an extra narrative layer to the latter stages of a remarkable career that has inspired countless fans worldwide. Lionel Messi is widely regarded as one of the most accurate and creative free‑kick takers in history, with a free‑kick tally that has risen steadily due to meticulous technique, practice, and adaptability across different leagues and competitions.

• Lionel Messi: 71 career direct free‑kick goals (2nd all‑time)
• Pelé: 70 free‑kick goals (now 3rd)
• Juninho Pernambucano: 77 free‑kick goals (all‑time leader)
• Most recent free‑kick milestone: Scored in Inter Miami vs. NYCFC match