Messi becomes second best international goalscorer: how many goals is he behind Cristiano Ronaldo?

Lionel Messi was accurate as Argentina defeated Canada 2-0 in the Copa America 2024 semi-finals on Tuesday, the Inter Miami star’s 51st-minute strike brought him to (joint) second place on the list of all-time top international scorers, behind eternal rival Cristiano Ronaldo. The former Barcelona playmaker will be hoping to get closer to the Portuguese against Uruguay or Colombia in the final at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens on Sunday (July 14).

How many international goals have Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo scored?

After Julián Álvarez opened the scoring midway through the first half, Messi tapped the ball into the net from close range early in the second period, which puts him on par with Iranian striker Ali Daei on 109 international goals. Only Ronaldowho scored 130 times in 212 matches for Portugal, has more for his country.

The Argentine is therefore 21 points behind (he has played 36 fewer games), but as he is now 37, time will undoubtedly play havoc with him.

Messi’s 109 have come in 186 caps and he has another chance to claim second place on their own at the current tournament in the United States. Argentina will find out their final opponent later on Wednesday, after the second semi-final between Uruguay and Colombia.

Ronaldo also took part in Euro 2024, but failed to add to his total number of goals for Portugal because they were knocked out in the quarter-finals by France.

How many consecutive international tournaments has Messi scored in?

Messi’s goal against Canada was his first in this year’s Copa América and means he now scored at least once in eight of his last major tournaments: four at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, An in the 2015 Copa America, five in the 2016 Copa America Centenario, An at the 2018 World Cup, An in the 2019 Copa America, four in the 2021 Copa America, seven in the 2022 World Cup and now An in the 2024 Copa America.

What Copa América records does Messi hold?

Messi’s final goal in the Copa América marked a new milestone for him in the competition.

The captain of Argentina has become only the second player in history to score in six different editions of the tournament (2007, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2021, 2024), equaling the record set by Brazilian striker Zizinho (1942, 1945, 1946, 1949, 1953, 1957).

Moreover, he is the player who played the most matches (38), won the most games (24), gave the most assists (18) and played in the most tournaments (seven).

How many times has Messi won the Copa América with Argentina?

However, the former Barça icon is looking for his second Copa América victorywho is far from the most successful player in the competition (Uruguayan striker Ángel Romano won six times between 1916 and 1926).