Performing productively with Inter Miami made Lionel Messi enter the list of scorers of 100 or more goals in three different decades. Cristiano Ronaldo still missed the list, but has a great chance to join Messi in the elite list.
Lionel Messi has always scored goals in his first five matches with his new club, Inter Miami. Most recently, Messi scored one goal in Inter Miami’s 4-0 win over Charlotte FC in the 2023 Leagues Cup quarter-finals, Saturday (12/8/2023).
In the match that was held at the DRV PNK Stadium, Messi scored the closing goal for Inter Miami in the 86th minute. It was Messi’s eighth goal in five consecutive games with Inter Miami. One goal against Charlotte FC also made Lionel Messi’s name on the elite list of footballers who have scored 100 or more goals in three different decades.
Reporting from the website of the International Federation of Football History and Statistics (IFFHS), Messi is the fifth player to enter the list. The Argentine superstar has always scored at least 100 goals in three different decades, namely the 2000s, 2010s and 2020s.
In the 2001-2010 decade, Messi scored 169 goals. Then in the 2011-2020 decade, he recorded 546. Most recently, La Pulga aka The Flea has collected 100 goals this decade (2021-2030).
Messi’s goals are those that were created in all official matches, both at club level and with the national team. Including Messi, here is a list of footballers who have scored 100 or more goals in three different decades.
1. Alfredo Di Stefano
1941-1950: 115 goals
1951-1960: 315 goals
1961-1970: 101 goals
2. Ferenc Puskas
1941-1950: 294 goals
1951-1960: 275 goals
1961-1970: 155 goals
3. Pele
1951 – 1960: 225 goals
1961-1970: 437 goals
1971-1980: 100 goals
4. Romario
1981-1990: 162 goals
1991-2000: 402 goals
2001-2010: 191 goals
5. Lionel Messi
2001-2010: 169 goals
2011 -2020 : 546 goals
2021-2030: 100 goals
Ronaldo has the opportunity to catch up with Messi
The name Cristiano Ronaldo is often brought up when talking about Lionel Messi. Ronaldo also has the opportunity to follow Messi into the list of scorers of 100 goals or more in three different decades. In the current decade (2021-2030), Cristiano Ronaldo has scored 88 goals. CR7 only needs 12 more goals to enter the elite list. Just like Messi, Ronaldo is also still sharp even though he is no longer playing in Europe.
Most recently, Ronaldo scored two goals in Al Nassr’s 2-1 victory over Al Hilal in the 2023 Arab Club Champions Cup final. If you look at Cristiano Ronaldo’s productivity, the Portugal national team captain has the potential to become the sixth player to score at least 100 goals in three different decades.
