Messi Climbs to Second on All-Time Free-Kick Goals List, Overtakes Brazilian Legends

Lionel Messi has moved into second place on the all-time list of direct free-kick goals after a prolific 2026 campaign, overtaking several legendary Brazilian set-piece specialists and extending his lead over long-time rival Cristiano Ronaldo.

The Argentine has now scored 75 direct free-kick goals in his career, putting him just three behind Brazilian record holder Marcelinho Carioca, who has 78. Ronaldo, meanwhile, has 63 and currently sits ninth on the all-time list.

Messi’s remarkable rise has been driven in part by his form this year. The Inter Miami star has scored six direct free-kick goals in 2026, taking him past Brazilian greats Juninho Pernambucano, Roberto Dinamite and Jair, who have 72, 73 and 74 respectively.

His progress represents a dramatic change from the situation earlier in his career. In 2017, Messi had scored just 34 direct free-kick goals, while Ronaldo had 53, giving the Portuguese forward a 19-goal advantage.

At the time, a Yahoo Sports article highlighted the size of the gap with the headline, “One of the records that Messi will never dare to break of Ronaldo,” reflecting the view that Messi would struggle to catch his rival in the discipline.

Messi, however, significantly improved his free-kick technique during his thirties and steadily closed the gap before moving ahead of Ronaldo and several of the game’s renowned specialists.

Ronaldo, now 41, remains ninth with 63 goals. He could still move past Jorge Aravena on 65, Siniša Mihajlović on 67 and Marcos Assunção on 68, but reaching the top five would require a substantial late-career surge.

With 75 goals already to his name, Messi now has Marcelinho Carioca’s record of 78 direct free-kick goals within touching distance.