Lionel Messi becomes top scorer in FIFA competitions after goal in Club World Cup

Lionel Messi is now the all-time leading scorer in FIFA competitions, with 25 goals across 10 tournaments over a 20-year span. His latest came against Porto in the 2025 Club World Cup, a left-footed strike that gave Inter Miami the win — and pushed him past Brazil’s Marta to become the highest scorer in FIFA history.

Lionel Messi has broken yet another record — and this one comes on the world’s biggest stage. With his decisive goal against Porto in the FIFA Club World Cup, the Argentine legend became the top goalscorer in FIFA competition history, surpassing Brazilian icon Marta, who previously held the record with 24 goals across FIFA tournaments.

Messi’s latest strike, a vintage left-footed finish in the 77th minute, gave Inter Miami a 2–1 victory over the Portuguese side and secured the club’s first-ever win in a FIFA Club World Cup. More importantly, it was Messi’s 25th goal in FIFA-sanctioned competitions, making him the all-time leader across men’s and women’s football.

According to FIFA’s official tally, Messi’s 25 goals have come over a span of 20 years, across 10 international tournaments — a testament to his longevity and consistency at the highest level.

A 20-year journey to the top

Messi scored his first goal in a FIFA tournament at the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany, when he was just 18. Since then, he has added to his tally in nearly every major competition:

• World Cup (2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022): 13 goals
• FIFA U-20 World Cup (2005): 6 goals
• FIFA Club World Cup (2009, 2011 with Barcelona; 2025 with Inter Miami): 5 goals
• FIFA Confederations Cup: 0 goals (Messi never played in this tournament)
• Olympics (not a FIFA tournament): not counted in this record

His goals in the Club World Cup have come in key moments — notably in 2009 and 2011 with Barcelona, and now in 2025 with Inter Miami. This latest one, the 25th, came in dramatic fashion and helped break the tie with Marta, the Brazilian forward widely regarded as the greatest in women’s football history.

The goal that sealed the record

Messi’s milestone came in Inter Miami’s second group stage match of the FIFA Club World Cup 2025. After trailing 1–0 to Porto, Miami equalized through Telasco Segovia before Messi took center stage. Receiving a pass near the edge of the box, he cut inside and fired low into the corner — a trademark finish that echoed his greatest moments in a Barcelona jersey.

It was Messi’s 50th goal for Inter Miami, scored in just 61 matches — another impressive achievement that highlights his continued impact in every competition he plays.