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Lionel Messi added another major honour to his extraordinary trophy collection, scoring as Inter Miami defeated Cruz Azul 2-0 to win the 2026 Campeones Cup at Nu Stadium.
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The Argentine reached 100 goals for Inter Miami with a first-half header, connecting with Luis Suárez’s cross to give the Herons the lead in the 24th minute.
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Messi later provided the assist for Casemiro’s 81st-minute header, sealing Inter Miami’s first Campeones Cup title
September 17, (THEWILL) – Lionel Messi has added another trophy to his remarkable collection, reaching 49 career honours according after inspiring Inter Miami to a 2-0 victory over Cruz Azul in the 2026 Campeones Cup final.
The Argentine captain opened the scoring at Nu Stadium with his 100th goal for Inter Miami before setting up Casemiro for the second-half goal that secured the club’s first Campeones Cup title.
The victory also extended Inter Miami’s extraordinary run of success since Messi’s arrival in 2023, with the club now having won a trophy in every season of the Argentine’s spell in South Florida.
Messi Reaches 100 Inter Miami Goals
Messi needed just 24 minutes to make history.
Luis Suárez supplied the cross, and Messi attacked the delivery inside the penalty area before rising above the Cruz Azul defence to head the ball beyond goalkeeper Kevin Mier.
The goal was significant for more than the scoreline.
It marked Messi’s 100th goal for Inter Miami, making him the fastest player in MLS history to reach that figure for his club. Remarkably, his first goal for Inter Miami also came against Cruz Azul in the 2023 Leagues Cup.
Cruz Azul had opportunities to respond after the interval. Gabriel Fernández saw a header hit the post, while Inter Miami survived further pressure before Messi once again influenced the contest at the other end.
Messi Sets Up Casemiro
With Cruz Azul searching for an equaliser, Messi delivered another decisive moment.
The Inter Miami captain’s corner in the 81st minute found Casemiro, who rose to head the ball into the net and double the advantage.
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The goal settled the final and gave new head coach Cristian “Kily” González a trophy in his first match in charge.
Messi was subsequently named the Campeones Cup MVP, after contributing a goal and an assist to Inter Miami’s victory.
49-Trophy Milestone
The Campeones Cup has taken Lionel Messi’s career trophy haul to 49 major honours, adding another piece of silverware to one of the most decorated careers in football history.
Messi’s collection now includes 10 La Liga titles, eight Spanish Super Cups, seven Copa del Rey trophies, four Champions League titles, three UEFA Super Cups, and three Club World Cups from his time at Barcelona.
His spell in France with Paris Saint-Germain brought two Ligue 1 titles, while his international career has produced two Copa América trophies, the 2022 FIFA World Cup, the Finalissima, Olympic gold and the FIFA Under-20 World Cup.
Since moving to Inter Miami, Messi has added the 2023 Leagues Cup, 2024 MLS Supporters’ Shield, 2025 MLS Cup, Eastern Conference Championship and now the 2026 Campeones Cup to his collection.
The latest triumph therefore adds another milestone to a career that has already delivered domestic league titles in Spain and France, European glory, international success and now a growing collection of honours in Major League Soccer.
Olumide Atiba is a sports journalist with THEWILL, known for his keen news sense and compelling storytelling. He has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, well-structured reports that resonate with readers, with a strong focus on football coverage
