Lionel Messi Inches Closer to Historic Milestone: 1000 in Sight

Lionel Messi needed just 10 minutes to score on a historic night in his new home stadium in Miami on Sunday as Inter escaped with a 2-2 tie against Austin FC in the defending MLS champions’ first match at their still-under-construction stadium near Miami International Airport on Saturday night. Inter Miami finally played a game in its namesake city on Saturday night, hosting Austin FC after more than six years of calling Fort Lauderdale its home. The stadium holds 26,700 seats.

Inter Miami (3-1-2) is now unbeaten in its last five MLS matches, and Austin (1-2-3) is now winless in its last four contests.

After scoring a fine header, Messi also moved one step closer to the elusive 1000-goal mark as he reached the landmark of 903 career goals.

As the legendary Argentine embarks on the final chapter of his great career, he recently sat down with ESPN to discuss his illustrious career.

Speaking on the expectation of winning, Messi said, “I’ve always been competitive; I like to win and I try to do it. Along the way I’ve had bad stretches or tough moments, but I always keep trying and I get back up, always looking for the best.”

“Many of the things that happened to me, I only realize or value now. When you’re focused or caught up in the day-to-day, it’s very difficult. My whole career was playing every three days, always important games, always fighting for important goals.

“We’d win one and a month later we had another one, or a new year would start and I had the obligation to win everything.

“The demands of being at a big club like Barcelona, ​​and it was the same in Paris, and also with Argentina, where you always have to go out and win.

“Most of the time it doesn’t happen or it’s very difficult, but from the start the mindset is to win everything, and the day-to-day keeps you from enjoying things.

“What’s coming becomes more important than what already happened, and with time you start valuing things much more.”

On Argentina’s World Cup chance, the 37-year-old said, “The truth is we have extraordinary players, and it’s been shown for years — especially the desire and excitement since [Lionel] Scaloni took over.

“The mentality everyone has. It’s a squad full of winners, with strong mindsets, who want to win more, and that’s contagious. You see it in training, in matches. You see them train and they give everything.

“We’re an amazing group that gets along very well, but in training matches or certain drills, if they have to go hard, they go hard. Everyone gives their all, and that’s a huge strength of this group and this national team.

“Scaloni and his staff built all of this. The day-to-day atmosphere comes from them.

“New players keep appearing; aside from the ones already there, new faces keep coming in. When a group is like this, it’s easier for newcomers to fit in.

“Argentina needs to take advantage of this moment. Coming off winning the World Cup gives you confidence and relief to prepare competitions differently.”