Messi reaches century as Inter Miami secures Campeones Cup
Lionel Messi scored his 100th goal for Inter Miami CF on Wednesday, heading in the opener before setting up Casemiro's late header in a 2-0 win over Mexico's Cruz Azul at the Nu Stadium in Florida.
The victory in the Campeones Cup, contested between the reigning MLS Cup winner and the Liga MX Campeón de Campeones, marked a successful debut for new head coach Cristian "Kily" González. Messi was named the match's top performer.
A milestone night in Miami
Messi needed just 24 minutes to reach his century, meeting a cross from Uruguayan forward Luis Suárez to break the deadlock. Brazilian midfielder Casemiro, a summer arrival, sealed the result in the 81st minute, rising to meet Messi's corner kick.
Canadian goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair made six decisive saves, preserving the clean sheet for Inter Miami despite Cruz Azul enjoying 52 percent possession and managing 18 shots to the Florida club's seven.
The Argentine's milestone goal came in his 115th appearance across all competitions for the club he joined in July 2023.
From zero to four trophies in three years
Before Messi's arrival, Inter Miami held no silverware. The club's transformation since mid-2023 has delivered four titles to South Florida.
The list includes:
• Leagues Cup (2023) — the club's first trophy.
• MLS Supporters' Shield (2024) — the best regular-season record.
• MLS Cup (2025) — the league championship.
• Campeones Cup (2026) — the regional showdown.
The Nu Stadium, which opened in April 2026 with a capacity of 26,700, hosted its first major final on Wednesday.
Individual records mount for the 39-year-old
Messi has now gathered 47 senior career trophies, solidifying his status as the most decorated player in football history.
His 2026 campaign has been prolific. Across 38 matches in all competitions, Messi has recorded 33 goals and 18 assists, including a World Cup campaign where he scored eight times and assisted four more.
In senior football, counting his time at FC Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, and Argentina's youth and senior teams, Messi has accumulated 956 goals and 440 assists in 1,230 games.
The forward's accuracy has proven vital at this stage of his career. Casemiro's goal on Wednesday was his fourth in five matches, all headers, underlining the threat Inter Miami poses from set pieces.
A ninth Golden Ball?
Messi's output in 2026 places him among the leading contenders for the Ballon d'Or, which would be his ninth. The award ceremony takes place in London on 26 October.
His case rests on a season of sustained excellence in Major League Soccer and a historic World Cup performance. In the 2026 tournament, co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada, Messi set multiple records, including the most appearances in World Cup history (34) and the most minutes played in the competition (3,064). He also became the only player to register an assist in six different World Cups.
Argentina reached the final before falling to Spain, with Messi finishing as the team's top scorer and leader in goal contributions.
