It was Inter Miami’s first Campeones Cup triumph and came thanks to the Argentine superstar’s 100th goal for the reigning MLS Cup winners. A late Messi corner was headed home by Casemiro to seal the win. Lionel Messi headed a goal and provided an assist as Inter Miami won the Campeones Cup on Wednesday, beating Cruz Azul 2-0 in the annual clash between Major League Soccer and Mexican Liga MX champions. Victory gave Messi his first trophy of the year, two months after the heartbreak of losing the 2026 World Cup final to Spain with Argentina.
Lionel Messi headed a goal and provided an assist as Inter Miami won the Campeones Cup on Wednesday, beating Cruz Azul 2-0 in the annual clash between Major League Soccer and Mexican Liga MX champions.
Cruz Azul had the game’s first big chance, Jose Paradela’s shot saved at the near post by Miami goalkeeper Dayne St Clair. Early in the second half Messi appeared to have scored his 101st Miami goal, racing through one-on-one from a Suarez through ball and placing his shot in off the post, but was ruled offside. A Messi corner gave Miami the two-goal cushion, finding Casemiro, who nodded the ball low to the far post in the 81st minute. The annual Campeones Cup pits the previous year’s MLS Cup winner against the winner of Mexico’s Campeon de Campeones.
The trophy came in new head coach Cristian “Kily” Gonzalez’s first game in charge of Miami.
