Lionel Messi scores free kick from near-impossible angle for Inter Miami

Lionel Messi bent a free kick from a near-impossible angle near the corner flag over goalkeeper Patrick Schulte into the far top corner to tie the game 1-1.

It was the 33rd minute at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field in Columbus, Ohio, on Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026. The 39-year-old lined up between the 18-yard box and the corner flag and went for goal himself. Josef Martínez had opened the scoring on a penalty kick in the 28th minute, and Messi’s reply leveled it for Inter Miami, then sitting third in the Eastern Conference.

"Oh my goodness!" Taylor Twellman said. The Spanish-language broadcast shouted "Golazo!!!" One outlet put it simply: That is perfection.

Fans in the stands filmed the free kick from behind Messi and from behind the goal, capturing the angle. Major League Soccer’s post of the moment drew 26,594 likes.

Columbus won 2-1 on a 99th-minute winner from Jamal Thiare. Messi is now believed to have 76 career free-kick goals, second all-time behind Marcelinho Carioca’s 78.