Messi’s 100th Miami Goal Seals First Campeones Cup Title

Lionel Messi scored a header and delivered an assist to lead Inter Miami to a 2-0 victory over Mexican side Cruz Azul on Wednesday, securing the club’s first Campeones Cup title in the annual showdown between the reigning Champions of Major League Soccer and Liga MX.

The match marked a milestone for the Argentine legend, who registered his 100th official goal for the MLS Cup champions before setting up former Real Madrid midfielder Casemiro via a late corner kick to seal the victory.

The silverware represents 39-year-old Messi’s first trophy of the year, coming two months following Argentina’s 2026 World Cup final defeat to Spain.

Following the final whistle, Casemiro praised his teammate’s continued impact on the game.

We have to enjoy this because we don’t know how long we’ll have it, Casemiro stated. What he has done and continues to do for football is incredible… he remains the best. He proved it at the World Cup and continues to prove it in MLS.

Inter Miami co-owner David Beckham advocated for Messi to receive a ninth Ballon d’Or title.

When you see him do things like this tonight, when you see him have the World Cup that he’s had… there is no one at 39 that’s doing that, and doing it at that level, Beckham noted. So he deserves to be considered for the Ballon d’Or. In my opinion, he should win it.

Cruz Azul created the initial danger when Jose Paradela forced a near-post save from Miami keeper Dayne St Clair.

Miami established the lead in the 24th minute when Luis Suarez delivered a cross from the byline, allowing the 5-foot-7 Messi to outleap Willer Ditta and direct a diving header into the net.

Suarez nearly set up a second in the 32nd minute, collecting a cross-field pass from Messi and lofting it to German Berterame, whose dinked effort was cleared off the line.

Early in the second half, Messi had a potential second goal ruled out for offside after running onto a Suarez through ball and finishing off the post.

Cruz Azul came close to equalizing in the 67th minute when substitute Gabriel Fernandez hit the post with a glancing header before Casemiro blocked the follow-up attempt.

Miami secured the two-goal margin in the 81st minute when Messi’s corner kick found Casemiro, who headed the ball low inside the far post. St Clair later protected the clean sheet by turning away a late Paradela free kick.

The victory served as a winning debut for new Inter Miami head coach Cristian Kily Gonzalez.

The Argentine manager was appointed last month but was delayed in joining the squad until this week due to visa processing.

The Campeones Cup pits the previous season’s MLS champion against the winner of Mexico’s Campeon de Campeones.

Hosted annually by the MLS representative, Miami’s triumph breaks a three-year winning streak by Liga MX clubs in the competition’s eighth edition.