We’re only a few weeks from 2026, so let’s project. If Messi stays healthy, he could easily hit 30 to 32 goals by December 31st. That would mean he’s scored a goal for every day of the month, which is ridiculous, but also plausible. Imagine him pulling up to a New Year’s Eve party and saying, “I scored 30 goals this year. What did you do?” You’d be like, “Uh, I finished a Netflix series.”
But honestly, the number doesn’t matter. What matters is that we’re watching a man who, at 36, is still making defenders trip over their own shoelaces. He’s scoring free kicks that look like they’re guided by GPS. He’s celebrating with that small, almost shy smile, like he’s surprised he did it again. Fake news—he knows exactly what he’s doing. He’s been doing it for two decades.
So, how many goals does Messi have this year? 28, give or take a hat-trick. But who’s counting? Oh, right—everyone. We’re all counting. Because every goal he scores is one more moment you’ll tell your grandkids about. And if you don’t have grandkids, it’s one more reason to call your friends and scream, “Did you see that?” It’s Messi. It’s always Messi. And thank goodness for that.
