Can Messi score 1000 goals is a question burning in the hearts of fans everywhere. The short answer? It’s possible—if Messi stays healthy, motivated, and picks his battles. But it will be one of the hardest feats in football history. Let’s break down where he stands now, what it would take, and whether the stars are aligned for Messi to reach that magic mark.
Where Messi is now: current goal tally & conditions
To assess plausibility, we first need the baseline: how many goals has Lionel Messi already scored, and under what conditions is he still playing.
- As of mid-2025, Messi has accumulated around 872 official goals for club and country combined (.).
- He is currently 38 years old and plays for Inter Miami in Major League Soccer. uters.com)
- His recent seasons illustrate he still has goal scoring muscle: in the 2024 MLS season, he netted ~20 goals, and in his total Inter Miami career across all competitions, he’s scored more than 50 in ~62 matches. uters)
So he is not far off.
What it would take: rate, seasons, health
Making up the difference between ~872 and 1000 goals means Messi needs about 128 more goals. To get there, several factors must align:
- Seasons remaining & playing time
- If Messi plays until age 41 or 42, he might have 3-4 seasons left at most at a reasonably high level.
- But playing time tends to decline with age—fewer matches, more rest, more rotation, more injuries.
- Goal rate per season
- To reach +128 goals in, say, 4 seasons, Messi would need to average ~32 goals.
- If he only has 3 seasons, the average jumps to ~43 goals per season—quite taxing.
- Competitions & goal opportunities
- Playing for Inter Miami in MLS gives fewer high-stakes continental competitions than Europe, but presumably more matches domestically and in U.S./CONCACAF cups.
- International matches (for Argentina) might provide additional chances, although as he ages those may also decrease.
- Health, fitness & role
- Staying injury-free is crucial. Also, his role might shift (more set-pieces, fewer sprints, more playmaking), which could reduce scoring chances.
- He might take fewer penalties or go through periods of lower scoring form.
Comparison with records & context
Putting this in context helps judge whether it’s realistic:
- Cristiano Ronaldo is also chasing 1000 and has accumulated very high goal totals. Messi and Ronaldo often compared in these “can they hit 1000” debates.
- Messi’s peak years (La Liga + Barcelona especially) saw him averaging very high goal numbers—over 50 in many seasons. But replicating that at 38-40 with changing physical demands is much harder.
- Others (historical players) have high goal totals, but the modern game, physicality, scheduling, tactics all make longevity plus high goal output much tougher.
Probability: can Messi reach 1000 goals?
Putting it all together, FreeKickSEO estimates:
| Scenario | Seasons left | Goals needed | Goals per season | Probability* |
| Optimistic — 4 full good seasons, healthy, playing major role | 4 | ~128 | ~32 | Moderate |
| Realistic — 3 seasons, some rotation, occasional injury, fewer international games | 3 | ~128 | ~43 | Low to Moderate |
| Pessimistic — 2 seasons max, reduced playing time, injury risk high | 2 | ~128 | ~64 | Very low |
*Probability is a qualitative estimate based on current form, age, and likely match count.
If all goes right—he stays fit, plays enough, still scores at a decent rate—it’s not impossible for Messi to hit 1000. But the odds are tough, especially given age, shifting role, and competition.
What might help & what might hurt
Helps:
- Remaining injury-free, managing his fitness smartly.
- Playing regularly in all competitions (league, cups, continental, international).
- Being involved in more goals.
- Perhaps a transition to a league/tournament setup where scoring chances are more frequent.
Hurts:
- Declining physical attributes (speed, stamina).
- Fewer games (rest, rotation, injury).
- Tactics where he plays “deeper” or more provider than scorer.
- International retirement or reduced selection.
Conclusion
Can Messi score 1000 goals? Yes — in theory. FreeKickSEO believes Messi has shown enough class, drive, and scoring prowess to make it at least plausible. But it will require near‐perfect conditions: several seasons more of high output, good health, and lots of opportunity. It’s not a guarantee — more of a legendary “if.”
If you’re a fan tracking this journey, stay tuned: see how many more goals Messi scores this season, how his role changes, and if he voices intention to keep going. If you want, FreeKickSEO can run projections season‐by‐season to show your odds of Messi hitting 1000 based on different paths. Want me to draft that?
