Well, here we go again. ⚽Messi is on the cusp of something huge. He’s entering 2026, and apparently, he’s pretty close to his 900th career goal. That’s what multiple ESPN reports are saying. It’s a massive milestone for the football icon, no doubt about it.
The Chase for 900
ESPN has been pretty vocal about this. Reports from early January 2026 tell us that Messi is just “never far from his next record or landmark.” And yeah, he’s on the verge of his 900th goal. It’s pretty wild to think about. This number, 900, it’s just mind-boggling, really. The article title even pushes it further: “Messi will score his 900th career goal in 2026. Can he reach 1,000? Can he pass Ronaldo?”
But here’s the thing. The actual numbers? We don’t have ’em. The research doesn’t give a specific current goal tally. We don’t know the exact goals he still needs for 900. Or 1,000. And there are no verified projections for him passing Ronaldo, either.
It’s more of a promotional kind of headline, you know? It shows up across various ESPN pages, but without all the nitty-gritty details. It just says he’s “on the verge” as 2026 kicks off. It’s a bit of a tease, really, but it definitely gets people talking about it. And it’s a testament to his continued impact on the sport. He just keeps going and going.
Beyond 900: Can Messi Reach 1,000?
Okay, so 900 goals is one thing. But then ESPN goes and throws out the 1,000-goal question. That’s a whole other level. Reaching 1,000 career goals? That’s, like, almost mythical in modern football. Very few players in history have even gotten close. It would be an absolutely insane achievement, even for Messi. And then there’s the Ronaldo question.
Can he pass him? That rivalry, it just never really ends, does it? People love comparing them. It adds another layer to Messi’s incredible journey. He’s already got so many records. This would just be another, well, another one.
It speaks volumes about his longevity. He’s been playing at the absolute highest level for so long. And he’s still scoring goals, still making headlines. It really seems like every season, there’s another milestone for him to chase. And he usually gets them. It’s pretty incredible to witness, honestly. We’re talking about one of the greatest ever, just adding more and more to his legacy. The discussions about 1,000 goals and passing Ronaldo are just natural. They follow a player of his caliber. It’s what fans and pundits do.
Messi’s Current Landscape
So, where is the maestro actually playing these days? The ESPN snippets don’t actually spell out his current club affiliation. That’s a bit vague. But, we do get some clues. The headline about his 900 goals, it pops up alongside some pretty specific Ligue 1 match pages. Think Monaco vs. Lyon, or PSG vs. Lille.
These contextual links kinda suggest his recent past or current activities are still tied to French football, or at least his time there with Paris Saint-Germain is still very fresh in people’s minds. It makes sense, given his recent stint there. So, even if he’s moved on, that French football connection is still lingering.
It’s interesting, right? Like, you’d think for such a big story, they’d name his club. But they don’t. It just shows how big Messi is. His personal milestones transcend any single club. He’s bigger than just one team, in a way. The focus is always on *him* and *his* numbers. But yeah, the Ligue 1 context is definitely there. You can check out more on ESPN’s soccer coverage for what’s happening in those leagues. And frankly, this kind of buzz just adds to the overall excitement around football, especially with stars like Messi still performing.
A Legacy Still Growing
Lionel Messi is just a record-breaking machine. He truly is. He enters 2026 on the verge of 900 career goals. That’s pretty wild. And you just know he’s going to hit it sometime this year. It’s not a matter of if, but when. And once he gets that, all eyes will be on the next big one. That magical 1,000-goal mark. It seems pretty far off, but honestly, with Messi, you just never know. He defies expectations all the time. He’s just always pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in football.
Every time he steps on the pitch, he’s creating history. That’s just what he does. The anticipation for his next goal, his next record, it’s always there. He’s a veteran player now, but his impact hasn’t really slowed down. The football world will be watching closely through 2026. Because with Messi, another record is always, always just around the corner.
He’s pretty much an institution at this point. And we’re lucky to still see him play and achieve these insane milestones. You can keep up with the latest football news, transfers, and general club announcements on sites like Football Addict, even for clubs like FC Barcelona, who have a rich history of great players.
Annsly Raena 
Baishali Karmakar