Lionel Messi Scores His 800th Career Goal in Argentina's Triumph Over Panama

On March 23, Lionel Messi reached yet another historic milestone in his illustrious career, scoring his 800th career goal in Argentina’s 2-0 victory over Panama during a celebratory match at the Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires. This achievement makes Messi only the second player in history to reach the 800-goal mark for club and country, following Cristiano Ronaldo.

The game marked Argentina’s first match since their 2022 World Cup triumph in Qatar. Fans packed the sold-out Monumental Stadium to witness their team’s return and celebrate the achievements of their footballing heroes. Before kickoff, the full World Cup squad posed with the trophy, and Lionel Messi, manager Lionel Scaloni, and other players brought their families to join the festivities.

Thiago Almada opened the scoring for Argentina in the second half, setting the stage for Messi’s crowning moment. After hitting the post twice from free kicks earlier in the game, Messi finally curled a stunning shot past Panama’s goalkeeper José Carlos Guerra in the 89th minute. The stadium erupted into a frenzy as Messi reached the monumental milestone.

Following the match, Messi addressed the ecstatic crowd, saying:

“I want to thank you all for the love and recognition that you have been receiving, not only after the World Cup but also for the Copa America. We said that we were going to give it all for this trophy.”

Manager Lionel Scaloni, visibly emotional, added:

“Eternal gratitude to these players. Football belongs to them, and without them, we wouldn’t have won the World Cup.”

Lionel Messi’s 800 career goals span an extraordinary career with club and country:

• Barcelona: 672 goals over 17 seasons, including 474 in La Liga, which remains a record in Spain’s top division.

• Paris Saint-Germain (PSG): 30 goals since joining the French champions in 2021.

• Argentina: 98 international goals, including seven during the 2022 World Cup campaign, where Messi led his nation to glory.

The Rosario native reached the milestone just days after scoring his 799th career goal in PSG’s Ligue 1 win over Nantes.

Messi’s 800th goal comes shortly after being named the Best FIFA Men’s Player, a record-extending honor for the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner. Messi’s achievements include:

• World Cup 2022 Champion with seven goals and three assists in Qatar.

• 700th Career Club Goal: Scored in February 2023.

• La Liga All-Time Top Scorer: 474 goals.

• IFFHS Recognition: Messi is the second player to reach 800 career goals, after Cristiano Ronaldo.

Despite some debates over the classification of "official" goals, Messi’s total of 800 goals cements his place as one of the greatest players in football history.

With 98 goals for Argentina, Messi is just two away from becoming the first Argentine player to reach the 100-goal milestone. Argentina’s upcoming friendly against Curaçao on March 29 presents Messi with the opportunity to extend his record and further solidify his legacy.

At 35, Lionel Messi continues to inspire, achieving feats that redefine football greatness. As he paraded around the pitch with his family and the World Cup trophy in hand, he reminded fans that his journey is far from over.