Messi tracker: Goals, assists, key moments in 2026

Lionel Messi will aim for more success in 2026. His Inter Miami side captured its first MLS Cup title last season and will look to defend it -- and add further silverware too -- in its first season at Nu Stadium, the club's new home.

Messi also captained Argentina as they fell just one step short of defending their FIFA World Cup crown, losing 1-0 in extra time to Spain in the final of what could be his last tournament.

As the 39-year-old continues to feature for both club and country, ESPN will track his performances game-by-game, providing stats and analysis each time he pulls on a Herons or Albiceleste jersey.

Messi's 2026 tally:

• Games played: 38
• Goals: 34
• Assists: 15

Sep. 20: Inter Miami 2-2 San Diego FC

Messi's sublime curling free kick was not enough to inspire the Herons to a win against San Diego on Sunday night.

After falling behind to an Anders Dreyer goal in the 12th minute, 39-year-old Messi levelled the scores with beautiful set-piece shot in the 24th minute. His well-hit effort evaded a number of attackers and defenders before sneaking in at the far post.

Miami thought they'd won the match after Luiz Suarez fired the hosts ahead in the 74th minute, only for Dreyer to nab his second goal of the game and ensure the points were shared.

Sep. 16: Inter Miami 2-0 Cruz Azul

Another day, another trophy for Messi.

The Argentine master scored his 100th goal for Inter Miami as the Herons defeated Cruz Azul 2-0 on Wednesday night to win the Campeones Cup.

Messi opened the scoring in the 24th minute, heading in a cross from Luis Suárez, before turning provider for Casemiro -- sending in a corner for the Brazilian to nod home.

Sep. 12: Inter Miami 2-2 Nashville SC

In a matchup between the two best teams in the Eastern Conference, the action went end to end, with Messi getting on the scoresheet for Miami's second goal off a Rodrigo De Paul assist as he continues to lead the Golden Boot race.

Ultimately, the teams settled for a point apiece, as the hosts failed to close the gap on Nashville at the top of the table.

Sep. 9: Chicago Fire 1-1 Inter Miami

Two or Europe's greatest club players took center stage in one of the United States' most iconic American football stadiums on Wednesday -- and a record crowd came out to watch.

Ex-Bayern Munich and Barcelona star Robert Lewandowski scored a trademark acrobatic goal in the 10th minute to give the Fire an early lead at the NFL home of the Chicago Bears.

But Inter Miami drew level shortly after halftime when Casemiro, another of the game's stars with a long history of playing in Europe before moving to MLS, headed home a Messi cross from a corner kick to make it 1-1.

The assist was Messi's league-leading 13th of the season. He also has league 18 goals and is the first player in MLS history with 30-plus goal contributions in three separate seasons.

Sep. 5: Inter Miami 2-2 Atlanta United

Messi was not as effective as he was in the previous matchup, but he did get an assist for Casemiro's opening goal. However, his team was unable to win as they had to settle for a point in a 2-2 draw.

August 29: Inter Miami 7-1 CF Montréal

Fans were treated to a Messi masterclass on Saturday as the Argentine magician registered four goals and an assist to help Miami to a club-record 7-1 victory over CF Montréal.

Messi scored with a deflected free kick in the 40th minute before netting after a stunning solo run in the 52nd. After supplying an assist to Luis Suárez, the 39-year-old then completed his hat trick and with a delicate chip over the goalkeeper with seven minutes of regulation time remaining.

He wasn't done yet.

Deep into stoppage time, Messi lined up a free kick and dispatched it with trademark precision into the top corner of the net. Legendary stuff.

August 22: Inter Miami 2-1 Toronto FC

Messi's 14th MLS goal of the season wasn't enough to prevent Inter Miami from slumping to their fourth loss in their last five games, losing 2-1 to Toronto FC at Nu Stadium on Saturday.

Messi found the net with a first-time finish from a Rodrigo De Paul through-ball with eight minutes remaining, but the home side's late rally fell short of salvaging a much-needed draw to bolster the Herons' pursuit of first-placed Nashville SC in the Eastern Conference.

August 19: Inter Miami 2-2 Philadelphia Union

Messi is back scoring goals, but unfortunately, his Miami side is not back to winning ways. The Argentine scored Miami's second goal of the night as both teams finished with 10 men. Miami are now winless in their last four matches.

August 15: Nashville SC 4-1 Inter Miami

It was not the best night for Messi in Tennessee. The Argentine missed yet another penalty -- his third straight for club and country -- and they suffered a heavy 4-1 loss to their Eastern Conference rivals. However, he did get an assist for Telasco Segovia's equalizer at halftime before Miami lost control in the second half.

August 12: Inter Miami 2-3 Club León

Just days after the passing of his father, Messi came off the bench in the second half to try to help Miami continue in the Leagues Cup after they were leading 1-0. However, it ended in a 3-2 loss which saw them eliminated in the league phase after a second straight loss, coming off defeat to Monterrey last weekend with Messi away at the memorial for his father. 

August 5: Inter Miami 4-2 Atlético de San Luis

Lionel Messi made his first start for Inter Miami since returning from the World Cup and picked up right where he left off, scoring a stellar pair of goals to guide his team to a come-from-behind 4-2 rout of Atlético de San Luis in its first game of the 2026 Leagues Cup.

Messi's first goal was an exquisite volley, redirecting Noah Allen's cross from the left flank while running at full speed. Miami's third goal of the opening half -- and Messi's second on the night -- came on the back of some intricate buildup play with Allen once again setting up his team captain, this time in the center of the area where he tiptoed through two defenders and buried a close-range strike past Andrés Sánchez.

The goal made Messi the all-time leading scorer in Leagues Cup history with 14, one ahead of LAFC's Denis Bouanga since the expanded competition began in 2023.

August 1: Inter Miami 2-2 Columbus Crew

Messi made his return to action for Inter Miami on Saturday, 13 days after tasting defeat with Argentina in the World Cup final. The Miami talisman started on the substitutes' bench before being introduced in the 53rd minute of the Herons' 2-2 draw with the Columbus Crew at Nu Stadium in Miami.

July 19: Spain 1-0 AET Argentina

Sunday proved to be a bridge too far for both Messi and Argentina, falling in extra time to Spain in the World Cup final.

With La Roja controlling the match basically from start to finish -- Argentina didn't register a shot on target during regulation time -- Messi had few opportunities to impact the game. Indeed, the 39-year-old was given a 3/10 in ESPN's post-match player ratings.

Still, as Mark Ogden points out, the 2026 tournament was a memorable one for Messi and cemented his status as the GOAT, if it were ever in doubt.

July 15: England 1-2 Argentina

Messi made another statement in his 205th appearance for Argentina, this time in his first-ever match against England in a World Cup semifinal. With so much at stake for both nations, Messi once again proved decisive despite not getting on the scoresheet.

He first provided the assist for Enzo Fernández's superb strike to level the match in the second half before delivering a pinpoint cross for Lautaro Martínez's headed winner, sending the reigning champions into yet another World Cup final after another dramatic encounter.

Messi has now recorded either a goal or an assist in all seven of Argentina's matches at this World Cup, and he will have the opportunity to lift the trophy for a second time when Argentina face Spain in Sunday's final in New Jersey.

July 11: Argentina 3-1 Switzerland

It was a relatively quiet night by Messi's standards as his goalscoring streak came to an end, but his influence on the match stayed the same. He set up Alexis Mac Allister's opening goal for Argentina against Switzerland, and although the match went to extra time, the defending champions won 3-1 thanks to two late goals in the second half of extra time.

Messi's quest to retain the World Cup now continues into the semifinals, where Argentina will face England for the first time in over 20 years. The clash in Atlanta -- one of international soccer's most storied rivalries -- will decide a spot in the final.

July 7: Argentina 3-2 Egypt

It was another dramatic outing for Messi and Argentina, who rallied from a 2-0 deficit to defeat Egypt 3-2 in Atlanta and book their place in the World Cup quarterfinals. As is so often the case, Messi was at the center of the action. Minutes after Egypt opened the scoring, he missed another penalty, but he quickly made amends by setting up Cristian Romero for Argentina's first goal. Messi then scored the equalizer -- his eighth goal of the tournament -- before Enzo Fernández completed the comeback with the winner. Argentina will now face Switzerland in Kansas City for a place in the semifinals.

July 3: Argentina 3-2 Cape Verde

Messi suffered a major scare in Miami Gardens on Friday evening in the round of 32, but it ultimately ended well for Argentina. He opened the scoring with his seventh goal of the tournament, extending his World Cup tally to 20 goals while finding the net in a record eighth consecutive World Cup match. Cape Verde twice fought back -- once in the second half and again in extra time -- but the world champions eventually prevailed 3-2 after extra time to book a meeting in the round of 16 with Egypt.

June 27: Jordan 1-3 Argentina

Messi didn't play the full 90 minutes in Argentina's 3-1 win over an already-eliminated Jordan, but he still made his mark during a 30-minute cameo in Texas. The 39-year-old scored a free kick for his sixth goal of the tournament and his 19th career World Cup goal, becoming the first player ever to score in seven consecutive World Cup matches. Even at 39, he's still got it.

June 22: Argentina 2-0 Austria

Another chapter in an already unparalleled career. Lionel Messi scored twice in Argentina's 2-0 win over Austria to help his team qualify for the round of 32 and become the outright leading goalscorer in men's and women's FIFA World Cup history with 18 goals. After missing an early penalty, he responded by breaking Miroslav Klose's 12-year-old record and then added a second late on to break Marta's record. All just two days before turning 39.

June 16: Argentina 3-0 Algeria

In his 200th appearance for Argentina and sixth World Cup, Lionel Messi sent a message to the world just days before his 39th birthday: he still has it. His first-ever World Cup hat trick powered Argentina to victory in their group-stage opener, while his 16th tournament goal saw him draw level with Miroslav Klose for the most goals in World Cup history.

June 9: Argentina 3-0 Iceland

Messi, working his way back from muscle fatigue ahead of the start of the World Cup, came on in the 70th minute of a pre-tournament friendly in Auburn, Alabama and scored from the penalty spot right afterward.

It was Messi's 911th career goal for club and country and 117th goal for Argentina and made him the oldest scorer in the country's soccer history.

May 24: Inter Miami 6-4 Philadelphia Union

Messi registered two assists in a scintillating performance against Philadelphia on Sunday but, unfortunately, no one was focused on results come the end of the game.

That's because, in the very last game before the World Cup, Messi left the field in the 73rd minute and headed straight to the locker room after grabbing his left thigh.

Now, supporters around the world are holding their collective breath while they wait and see if the injury has scuppered the 38-year-old's chance of appearing at a sixth World Cup.

May 13: FC Cincinnati 3-5 Inter Miami

Two goals and one assist marked yet another spectacular contribution from Miami superstar Messi on Wednesday. The Argentine magician was instrumental as the Herons fought back from 3-2 down to eventually beat Cincinnati 5-3 at TQL Stadium in Ohio.

May 9: Toronto FC 2-4 Inter Miami

It was a day of star power. Not only were Rodrigo De Paul, Luis Suárez and Sergio Reguilón all on the score sheet for the Herons, so was Messi -- and he added a pair of assists, too.

While Miami has yet to taste victory at its new home, it continues to take care of business on the road. Saturday's win in Toronto extended the club's unbeaten record away from home in 2026 to seven games, picking up six wins and one draw in the first few months of the season.

May 2: Inter Miami 3-4 Orlando City

Messi notched a goal and an assist on Saturday in what ended up being an astonishing collapse for Inter Miami at Nu Stadium.

The Herons were leading 3-0 after Messi's classy 33rd-minute strike, but gifted the visitors four goals -- including a Martín Ojeda hat trick -- to once again miss out on a victory at their new home ground. Orlando's comeback from three goals down marks only the third time in MLS history that a team has claimed all three points after trailing by three or more goals.

As for Messi's Miami, only twice has an MLS team had a longer winless run -- now up to four for the Herons -- to open up a new stadium.

April 25: Inter Miami 1-1 New England Revolution

Messi again failed to get on the scoresheet as Miami put in a fatigued second-half performance that saw them come from a goal down against New England. It was another draw -- and another game without a win at their new home, Nu Stadium.

April 22: Real Salt Lake 0-2 Inter Miami

No goals or assists from Messi as Miami visited America First Field on Wednesday, but the fans did get treated to sumptuous strikes nonetheless.

Rodrigo De Paul's opener in the 80th-minute was stunning curler from outside the box and then, almost immediately after the restart, Luis Suarez made it 2-0 with a well-struck volley.

The victory moves Inter Miami into outright second in the MLS Eastern Conference.

April 18: Colorado Rapids 2-3 Inter Miami

Another moment of Messi magic bagged all three points for Inter Miami on Saturday.

With scores level in the 79th minute, the Argentine icon danced his way past a number of Colorado defenders before curling home an outrageous effort into the far corner.

The strike -- Messi's second of the match after converting a penalty in the first half -- helped Miami to their first win under interim coach Guillermo Hoyos.

Hoyos, who had been serving as club's sporting director, took over coaching duties after Javier Mascherano unexpectedly left the club due to personal reasons last week.

April 11: Inter Miami 2-2 Red Bull New York

Miami and Messi are still waiting for a first win at Nu Stadium after a 2-2 draw with Red Bull New York on Saturday night.

Messi didn't register a goal or assist, but did help set up Germán Berterame's second-half strike that gave Inter Miami its first lead at its new home ground, but 17-year-old Adri Mehmeti's first career goal in the 77th minute secured a point for the visitors.

April 4: Inter Miami 2-2 Austin FC

Inter Miami opened Nu Stadium the only way it knows how: With a Messi goal. The No. 10 began the move in trademark style with a left-footed pass to a teammate before moving past a defender and arriving in the box at just the right time to head past goalkeeper Brad Stuver.

March 31: Argentina 5-0 Zambia

It was the last day of the month and perhaps the last game for Messi playing for Argentina playing in his native country, but they put on a show defeating the African side Zambia 5-0. Messi scored the second goal for Lionel Scaloni's side as focus will shift now to Miami until the beginning of the World Cup.

March 27: Argentina 2-1 Mauritania

In his first game for his country in 2026, Messi only played the second half as Argentina won 2-1 against Mauritania at the mythical La Bombonera in Buenos Aires, as the World Cup champions continue to prepare to defend their title this summer in North America.

March 22: NYCFC 2-3 Inter Miami

It was a thrilling encounter in the Bronx, as the Argentine star helped his team to a 3-2 win over NYCFC, which also included another trademark free kick goal, now beginning his course for potentially 1,000 career goals. Only 99 goals left! 

March 18: Inter Miami 1-1 Nashville SC

Messi may have made history on Wednesday night, becoming just the second men's player in history to score 900 career goals, but it wasn't enough to seal Miami's progress in the Concacaf Champions Cup.

The Argentina legend found the back of the net in the seventh minute at Chase Stadium, but his strike was cancelled out by Nashville's Cristian Espinoza -- sealing the Herons' tournament exit on the away goals rule.

March 11: Nashville SC 0-0 Inter Miami

A drab night for Messi and Co. in the Concacaf Champions Cup. Plenty of possession but few shots on target mean that the Herons will return to Chase Stadium know a win will be needed to ensure progression.

March 7: D.C. United 1-2 Inter Miami

It was quite an eventful week for Messi. Just days before Miami's match against D.C. United, Messi and the entire squad visited the White House and met President Donald Trump and were eager to put on a show for the sold-out crowd of over 70,000 at Baltimore's M&T Bank Stadium.

And they did just that, with a 2-1 win over D.C. United. Messi, of course, scored Miami's second and is now one goal away from 900 career goals.

March 1: Orlando City 2-4 Inter Miami

Well, that blip didn't last long! Messi and Miami roared back into life with a 4-2 thrashing of Orlando on Sunday thanks to the 38-year-old's wizardry.

Things looked ominous for the Herons after the first 45 minutes, down 2-0 and looking on course to start the MLS season with two bleak losses.

But two goals and an assist from Messi in the second half dragged the visitors back in the game and helped secure Miami their first points of the season. 

Feb. 21: LAFC 3-0 Inter Miami

Messi and Miami aimed to start 2026 firing on all cylinders, but it was the hosts who spoiled the defending MLS Cup champions' opener at the LA Coliseum. In front of a sellout crowd of 75,673 -- the second-highest attendance in MLS history -- Miami were outplayed, with LAFC's Denis Bouanga getting a goal and an assist in a convincing home victory.

The main talking point, however, emerged after the final whistle. Messi was initially reported to have gained unauthorized access to the officials' locker room after video circulated showing him near the area. However, it was later reported that no league policy had been violated and Messi was cleared of any wrongdoing. Miami will now turn its attention next weekend against fellow Florida side Orlando City.