Inter Miami CF head coach Javier Mascherano has hailed talisman Lionel Messi as one of a kind as the veteran striker nears the 900-goal milestone. Messi has scored 898 goals in his glorious career, and he is all set to become just the second footballer, after Cristiano Ronaldo, to score 900 goals.

Messi had a stellar career at Barcelona as he played 778 matches in which he scored a record number of 672 goals and provided an astonishing 305 assists. The star forward signed a two-year contract with Paris Saint-Germain after playing for Barcelona. The veteran scored 32 goals for the Ligue 1 team.

The Argentine has scored 115 goals in his International career for the reigning World Cup champions, whereas he has netted 79 goals for the Herons.

Meanwhile, Messi scored in the 27th minute, in the Major League Soccer match against DC United on Saturday. The striker scored 35 goals throughout the regular season 2025 campaign in the MLS and also provided 24 assists. 

“[I am] a privileged spectator, nothing more, nothing less,” Mascherano said. “I haven’t contributed much to him scoring goals, neither with assists nor now as a coach. I’ve been lucky enough to see most, or many, of the goals he’s scored, much closer than you all, and that’s a privilege. The number we’re talking about [900] is insane, and that’s why Leo is a one of a kind.”

Messi also holds the world record for most goals scored in a single calendar year after netting 91 in 69 games in 2012, scoring 79 for Barcelona and 12 for Argentina.