Lionel Messi scored the winning goal in Inter Miami's 2-1 victory over New England Revolution on Sunday, November 1, 2026, taking his official career goal tally to 937 and bringing him another step closer to the historic 1,000-goal milestone.

The Argentine superstar also provided an assist for German Berterame's equaliser before scoring the decisive goal in the 83rd minute at Gillette Stadium. It was another memorable performance from the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner as Inter Miami secured all three points.

However, Cristiano Ronaldo continues to lead the race. The Portuguese superstar has 985 career goals and is just 15 strikes away from reaching the unprecedented landmark.

Ronaldo's most recent appearance was equally remarkable. The Al Nassr captain scored a second-half hat-trick in his team's 5-3 victory over Al-Kholood on October 29. He found the net in the 66th, 72nd and 81st minutes, taking his career tally from 982 to 985 goals.

How many goals do Ronaldo and Messi need to reach 1,000?

Ronaldo needs just 15 more goals to become the first player to reach 1,000 official career goals in senior football. Messi, meanwhile, requires another 63 goals to reach the same landmark.

The difference between the two legendary forwards currently stands at 48 goals.

Who has the better goals-per-game ratio?

Although Ronaldo leads the overall scoring tally, Messi has historically maintained a superior goals-per-appearance ratio.

Ronaldo's 985 goals have come in 1,343 appearances, giving him an average of approximately 0.73 goals per game. Messi's scoring efficiency has been higher, reflecting his remarkable consistency across Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, Inter Miami and Argentina.

Cristiano Ronaldo vs Lionel Messi G+A Stats

Who will reach 1,000 goals first?

Ronaldo is currently in pole position to reach the landmark first. With just 15 goals remaining, the Al Nassr captain is within touching distance of a milestone that would further cement his extraordinary legacy.

Messi, however, is not out of the equation. His continued productivity at Inter Miami suggests the Argentine could also make a serious attempt at reaching four figures. The race remains fascinating, but Ronaldo currently holds the advantage as football's two greatest modern goalscorers approach 1,000 career strikes.

Story first published: Monday, November 2, 2026, 14:06 [IST]

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