We have provided some Lionel Messi goal method betting tips ahead of the return of the MLS, with Messi's Inter Miami hosting Real Salt Lake at 1am UK time on Thursday. Messi has scored a staggering 721 goals over the course of his club career so far, and will be looking to add to his tally in the new MLS season's opener.
As such, we have provided a breakdown of exactly how the Argentine superstar has scored each of his 721 goals, and made note of some particularly special ones that will live long in football fans' memories. Check out our other Lionel Messi latest odds article, including his chances of winning the MLS!
Lionel Messi goal method betting tips: Will he score in MLS opener?
Left-footed shot: 444 – 61.6%
The predominantly left-footed Messi has unsurprisingly scored the majority of his club goals with his left foot. This includes his debut goal for Barcelona in a 2-0 home win against Albacete in La Liga, after being promoted from Barca's B team.
There are so many other notable goals that stand out, including the goal to put Barcelona back in front in the 2011 UEFA Champions League final against Manchester United, helping the Catalan giants win club football's most coveted trophy. Nonetheless, even at 36 years old, there are no signs of Messi stopping.
Messi is 4/5 favourite to score anytime vs Real Salt Lake.
Right-footed shot: 89 – 12.3%
Messi has scored over 12% of his club goals with his weaker right foot, which is the next dominant way he has found the net after his left foot. Incidentally, Messi scored in three consecutive Supercopa finals between 2010-12 with his right foot, helping Barcelona win all of them!
He also opened the scoring for PSG in their 4-0 Trophee des Champions final triumph over Nantes in 2022, and notably scored a hat-trick of right-footed goals against APOEL in a 4-0 Champions League win for Barcelona in 2014.
Messi is 17/1 favourite to score a hat-trick vs Real Salt Lake.
Penalty: 84 – 11.7%
Messi has traditionally been a cool penalty taker, and the 84 penalties he has scored in his club career so far show that. One of his most memorable spot-kicks was for Barcelona against arch rivals Real Madrid, where his 84th-minute penalty secured a dramatic 4-3 win at the Santiago Bernabeu in La Liga in 2014.
Incidentally, Messi has never scored a penalty in normal time for Inter Miami, but that could change in the new MLS season.
Messi is 3/1 favourite to score first vs Real Salt Lake.
Direct free-kick: 54 – 7.5%
Not just a penalty specialist, Messi has also scored his fair share of direct free-kicks too. As expected, the majority of them were scored when he was at Barcelona, including a wonderful strike in the Champions League semi-finals against Liverpool in 2019, which Barca unfortunately went on to lose 4-3 on aggregate.
Messi has also scored two direct free-kicks for Inter Miami so far, and will be hoping for more once the MLS restarts.
Messi is 10/3 favourite to score last vs Real Salt Lake.
Header: 24 – 3.3%
Unsurprisingly given his height and stature, Messi has scored a small portion of his club goals with his head. His most memorable headed goal is probably the one he scored in the 2009 Champions League final against Manchester United that sealed a 2-0 victory for Barcelona.
It should also be noted that Messi's headed goals have all come while playing for Barca, and he is yet to score a header for Inter Miami.
Messi is 16/1 to score a header vs Real Salt Lake.
