After netting two in Inter Miami’s 3‑1 win over Atlanta United, Messi logged his 936th career goal at 39.
Messi and Ronaldo remain football’s towering legends, each adding chapters that keep fans guessing their final tallies.
Saturday’s double against Atlanta propelled Inter Miami to 3‑1 and pushed Messi to 936 goals, a pace that could outstrip Ronaldo’s total at the same age.
What was Ronaldo’s goal total when he hit 39?
Ronaldo turned 39 on Feb 5, 2024 with 873 goals in 1,204 games. By his 40th birthday a year later, he had risen to 923 goals in 1 254 matches, adding 50 in that span.
In my view, Ronaldo’s consistency at Al Nassr still impresses, even as his goal count trails Messi’s surge.
Messi celebrated his 39th birthday on June 24, 2026 with 916 goals, nearly matching Ronaldo’s 40‑year total. He’s since added 20 more, reaching 936 with eight months left before turning 40.
Inter Miami now faces tough contract choices as they weigh the futures of two key players.
A decisive factor ahead is international availability. Messi has hung up his Argentina jersey, limiting him to club and continental fixtures only.
The path to 1,000 goals will test durability and ambition—will Messi or Ronaldo be the first to cross that line?
Ronaldo sits just 19 goals shy of the coveted 1,000‑goal mark, and many expect him to breach it if he keeps playing.
Even without Argentina games, Messi stays on track for 1,000 goals. He’s younger by over two years and enjoys a better goals‑per‑match rate, keeping the chase alive.