Lionel Messi is one of the greatest players in history, but a little-known fact is that he has never scored a goal against an African club throughout his professional career. This detail gains importance as the Argentine forward prepares to compete in the FIFA Club World Cup with Inter Miami, where he will face teams from different regions of the world, including the powerful Al Ahly from Egypt.

Why Has Messi Never Scored Against African Teams?

During his time at FC Barcelona, Messi participated in several editions of the Club World Cup—specifically in 2009, 2011, and 2015—after winning the UEFA Champions League. However, in those years, African clubs such as Al Ahly, Espérance de Tunis, and TP Mazembe were eliminated in the early rounds and never faced Barcelona. For example, in 2015, Barcelona played against Guangzhou Evergrande in the semifinals and River Plate in the final, without meeting any African teams.

Moreover, outside the Club World Cup, there are no official competitions where European and African clubs regularly face each other. There are also no documented friendly matches between teams like Barcelona or Paris Saint-Germain, clubs where Messi played, and African clubs. Therefore, the chance for Messi to have scored against an African club has been virtually nonexistent.

Detailed statistics on platforms like FBref and various goal databases confirm this absence. While Messi has scored against numerous European and South American teams, there is no record of goals against African sides.

A New Chapter: The Club World Cup with Inter Miami

Now, as a player for Inter Miami, Messi will have a special opportunity in this tournament. In his group, besides facing Al Ahly, he will also compete against Porto and Palmeiras. The Argentine has expressed excitement about competing against some of the best teams in the world and experiencing the tournament with a different expectation compared to his years at Barcelona or PSG.

“It’s a great tournament, a unique chance to compete with top clubs and enjoy football to the fullest,” Messi said in a recent interview. He also highlighted the value this tournament offers to South American teams, allowing them to test themselves against European powerhouses on a global stage.

Finally, it is worth noting that Messi just reached his 50th goal wearing the Inter Miami jersey, an important milestone that shows his adaptation and leadership at the American club. Now, with the Club World Cup, he aims to continue making history—perhaps for the first time by scoring against an African team.