Campeones Cup: Messi reaches 100 goals, Inter Miami wins 2-0

Inter Miami secured the Campeones Cup by defeating Cruz Azul 2-0 on Wednesday, September 16, at the Nu Stadium in Miami. Lionel Messi opened the scoring in the 24th minute with a header from a cross by Luis Suárez, marking his 100th goal with the Florida club.

The Argentine then provided the corner that was headed in by Casemiro in the 81st minute for the 2-0 lead. This victory gives Inter Miami its first Campeones Cup, a competition that annually pits the MLS champion against the Mexican winner of the Campeón de Campeones.

Messi has now reached the milestone of 100 goals in 115 matches across all competitions with Inter Miami. The club reports 11 goals in 2023, 23 in 2024, 43 in 2025, and already 23 in 2026. Major League Soccer also recognizes this Campeones Cup as the 48th trophy of the Argentine’s career.

The significance is heightened by the identity of the opponent. Messi scored his very first goal with Inter Miami against Cruz Azul in July 2023, converting a free kick in stoppage time that secured a 2-1 victory for the Floridians in the Leagues Cup. Three years later, he scored again against the Mexican club to surpass the 100-goal mark.

The final also marked the first competitive match for Cristian “Kily” González at the helm of Inter Miami. Appointed earlier this week, the former Argentine international began his tenure with a trophy against a Cruz Azul team that arrived in Miami as the Campeón de Campeones champion.

Cruz Azul held on until the end of the first half after Messi’s opening goal but failed to find an equalizer. Inter Miami secured its advantage in the closing minutes when Messi set up Casemiro from a corner for the 2-0 scoreline.

Inter Miami will return to MLS action on Sunday against San Diego FC at the Nu Stadium. The club heads into this match in second place in the Eastern Conference.