Lionel Messi scored his 100th goal for Inter Miami and provided an assist as the Major League Soccer club defeated Cruz Azul 2-0 on Wednesday to win their first Campeones Cup title.
Gatekeepers News reports that the annual competition pits the reigning MLS Cup champions against the winners of Mexico’s Liga MX Campeón de Campeones.
Messi opened the scoring in the 24th minute with a rare header, before setting up Casemiro for Miami’s second goal in the 81st minute.
Luis Suarez delivered a cross from the byline for the opening goal, with the 39-year-old Argentine outjumping Willer Ditta to head the ball into the net.
Messi appeared to have scored again early in the second half when he raced onto a Suarez through ball and struck the post, but the effort was ruled out for offside.
Cruz Azul came close to equalising in the 67th minute when substitute Gabriel Fernandez’s header struck the post before Casemiro blocked the follow-up attempt.
Miami then doubled their advantage when Messi’s corner found Casemiro, who headed the ball low into the far corner.
After the match, Casemiro praised Messi and reflected on the opportunity to play alongside the Argentine.
“We have to enjoy this because we don’t know how long we’ll have it,” the former Real Madrid midfielder said.
“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 also backed Messi for the Ballon d’Or.
“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 said.
“So he deserves to be considered for the Ballon d’Or. In my opinion, he should win it.”
The victory gave Messi his first trophy of the year and came two months after Argentina lost the 2026 World Cup final to Spain.
The match was also the first game in charge for Inter Miami’s new head coach, Cristian “Kily” Gonzalez. The Argentine was appointed last month but only began training with the team this week following visa delays.
The Campeones Cup was established as an annual meeting between the previous season’s MLS Cup winner and Mexico’s Campeón de Campeones winner. Wednesday’s match was the eighth edition, with the MLS representative hosting the fixture.
Mexican clubs had won the previous three editions, while Cruz Azul remain without a Campeones Cup title after also losing the 2021 final.
