OFFICIAL: Messi surpasses Pele

With 71 free-kick goals, Lionel Messi surpasses Pele on the all-time ranking, while also approaching the record of "Free-kick King" Juninho.

Lionel Messi once again makes the football world talk about him by raising his total direct free-kick goals to 71, thereby surpassing the legend Pelé on the all-time list. This achievement helps the Argentine superstar move up to second place, now only 6 goals behind Juninho Pernambucano's record.

The notable aspect is not only the number, but also the evolution in Messi's playing style. From a player known for dribbling, vision, and finishing, he has turned free-kicks into an extremely dangerous weapon. This marks a significant shift in his career, as Messi gradually redefines the value of set-piece situations in modern football.

The latest goal also helped Messi reach 901 career goals, contributing significantly to Inter Miami CF's 3-2 victory over New York City FC. Notably, their opponent was previously unbeaten in MLS, demonstrating Messi's direct impact in major matches.

In this match, Messi scored the equalizer in the 61st minute after the team trailed, showing his familiar composure under pressure. Later, Brazilian player Michael secured the win in the 74th minute, completing an impressive comeback for Inter Miami against a tough opponent.

On the ranking of players with the most free-kick goals in history, Juninho still leads with 77 goals. Following Messi and Pelé are Ronaldinho and Víctor Legrotaglie, both with 66 goals. However, the gap between Messi and the top position is narrowing with each match.

In the early years of his career, free-kicks were not Messi's strength. But over time, he has significantly improved this skill, turning every set-piece opportunity within shooting range into a real chance. Not just scoring goals, Messi also brings the feeling that each free-kick can change the course of the game.

The gap of only 6 goals from Juninho makes the record race more noteworthy than ever. While maintaining high performance and with many matches ahead, Messi is not only approaching a historic milestone but also helping change how the world views the art of free-kicks in football.