Which club did Messi play for when he scored his 500th career goal?

Messi played for Barcelona when he scored his 500th career goal. He reached the milestone on 17 April 2016, scoring Barcelona’s first goal in a 2–1 La Liga victory over Valencia at Camp Nou.

The goal was a left-footed finish after a low cross from Jordi Alba. It was Messi’s 450th goal for Barcelona and his 500th in senior football for club and country combined. Barcelona ultimately lost that match’s opening momentum but secured the win with another Messi goal later in the game.

The wording can cause confusion because Messi’s goals are often counted in different ways: club goals only, official goals, or club-and-country totals. His 500th career goal referred to the combined senior total, while Barcelona was the club he represented for the milestone. He later left Barcelona for Paris Saint-Germain in 2021 and joined Inter Miami in 2023.