Messi’s final-stage dominance continues with 36th career goal

Lionel Messi has added another final to his extraordinary scoring record, taking his all-time tally of goals in finals to 36.

The Argentine forward scored in yet another title-deciding match, extending a record that increasingly appears more like a video-game statistic than a conventional football milestone.

For perspective, the previous benchmark was held by Pelé, who was widely regarded for decades as football’s greatest player. Pelé scored 29 goals in finals, leaving Messi seven clear of that mark.

Messi has now appeared in more than 47 finals across club and international football and has won 33 of them, giving him a victory rate of more than 70% in matches that often define a player’s legacy.

Much of his record was built during his Barcelona years, when he scored roughly 31 of his 36 final goals. Copa del Rey finals, Champions League finals and Spanish Super Cups repeatedly provided the stage for Messi to deliver when trophies were at stake.

His most memorable international final came at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, where he scored twice against France in a match widely regarded as one of the greatest finals ever played. His sustained impact for Argentina has also produced 125 goals in 207 appearances for the national team.

When Messi joined Inter Miami in 2023, many observers viewed the move as the beginning of a victory lap for a player who had already won virtually every major honour available to him. Instead, he continued to score in finals, including in the 2026 Campeones Cup final against Cruz Azul.

The consistency has extended across four teams and competitions, from Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain to Inter Miami and Argentina. Across two decades of professional football, Messi has repeatedly produced at the moments when the stakes are highest.

Comparisons between eras, however, come with limitations. Pelé played in an era with fewer competitions, different squad structures and a markedly different defensive environment. Messi, meanwhile, has benefited from the modern football calendar, which provides elite players with more opportunities to reach finals.

The significance of the 36-goal mark also lies in its longevity. Other elite forwards have produced extraordinary performances in finals or knockout football for sustained periods. Ronaldo Nazário was a formidable presence in World Cup knockout rounds, while Zinedine Zidane developed a reputation for decisive performances in Champions League finals.

What sets Messi’s record apart is the duration of that consistency: two decades of professional football, more than 47 final appearances and 36 goals on the biggest occasions.

By Tamilla Hasanova