Inter Miami have added another trophy to their growing collection after defeating Cruz Azul 2–0 in the 2026 Michelob ULTRA Campeones Cup. The final produced two memorable moments: Lionel Messi scored his 100th goal for Inter Miami, while Casemiro sealed the victory with a powerful header in the 81st minute.
The result was significant for both the club and Messi. Inter Miami lifted the Campeones Cup for the first time, while Messi became the first player in club history to reach 100 goals. He achieved the milestone in his 115th appearance for the club.
Inter Miami 2-0 Cruz Azul: Match overview
The 2026 Campeones Cup final brought together Inter Miami, the MLS Cup holders, and Cruz Azul, the Mexican champions. The match was played at Nu Stadium, Miami, with the home side looking to add another trophy during the Messi era.
Inter Miami eventually won 2–0, but Cruz Azul created several opportunities during the match. According to Inter Miami’s official match report, Cruz Azul finished with 18 shots compared with Miami’s seven, while Miami’s goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair made six saves.
Despite having less possession and fewer shots, Inter Miami made their important chances count.
Match Result
| Team | Score |
| Inter Miami | 2 |
| Cruz Azul | 0 |
Goals:
- ⚽ 24′ — Lionel Messi
- ⚽ 81′ — Casemiro
Messi scores his 100th goal for inter Miami
The biggest story of the night was Lionel Messi reaching another major milestone.
In the 24th minute, Luis Suárez delivered a precise ball from the right side into the penalty area. Messi made a late run, rose above Willer Ditta and headed the ball past Cruz Azul goalkeeper Kevin Mier.
It was an unusual way for Messi to reach his 100-goal milestone because the Argentine superstar is more commonly associated with his left-footed finishes, dribbling and free kicks.
But the header counted—and it came in a final.
The goal gave Messi 100 goals in 115 appearances for Inter Miami across all competitions. It also made him the first player in the club’s history to reach the century mark.
Messi’s inter Miami goal breakdown
Inter Miami’s official report lists Messi’s goals by season as follows:
- 2023: 11 goals
- 2024: 23 goals
- 2025: 43 goals
- 2026: 23 goals so far
- Total: 100 goals
That consistency across multiple seasons has made Messi a central figure in Inter Miami’s rapid rise since his arrival in 2023.
A special milestone against Cruz Azul
There was an interesting connection between Messi’s first and 100th Inter Miami goals.
Messi scored his first goal for Inter Miami against Cruz Azul during his debut in the 2023 Leagues Cup. That goal came from a stoppage-time free kick and gave Miami a 2–1 victory.
Three years later, Cruz Azul was again the opponent when Messi reached his 100-goal milestone.
That made the occasion even more memorable for Inter Miami supporters.
The 100th goal was not simply another regular-season strike. It came in a championship match and helped put Miami on course to another piece of silverware.
Casemiro seals the compeones cup
Inter Miami led 1–0 for most of the match, but Cruz Azul remained within touching distance.
The Mexican side had opportunities to equalize, including a header from Gabriel Fernández that struck the post. Miami needed another goal to give themselves more breathing room.
That second goal arrived in the 81st minute.
Messi stepped up to take a corner from the left side. His delivery found Casemiro inside the penalty area, and the Brazilian midfielder rose to head the ball into the net.
Inter Miami 2–0 Cruz Azul.
The goal effectively settled the final and gave Miami the cushion they needed to close out the championship.
It also meant Messi finished the match with one goal and one assist.
Messi’s Milestone and Casemiro’s Header Seal the Win
The two goals highlighted different parts of Inter Miami’s attacking threat.
Messi’s goal showed his movement inside the penalty area, while Casemiro’s finish demonstrated his aerial strength.
But there was another important connection: Messi created Casemiro’s goal.
The Argentine’s corner was delivered into a dangerous area, allowing Casemiro to attack the ball and produce a powerful header.
For Miami, it was a combination of two experienced players producing decisive moments when the match was still competitive.
Cruz Azul created problems for Miami
Although Inter Miami won 2–0, the match statistics show that Cruz Azul were competitive.
Cruz Azul recorded 18 shots, compared with seven for Inter Miami. They also had 52% possession, while Miami had 48%. This made Dayne St. Clair an important part of the victory.
The Miami goalkeeper produced several saves, including a late intervention to protect the clean sheet. His performance helped Inter Miami survive Cruz Azul’s pressure and maintain their advantage until the final whistle.
The statistics therefore tell an interesting story: Cruz Azul generated more attacking volume, but Miami were more effective when their key opportunities arrived.
Inter Miami win their first campeones cup
The victory marked Inter Miami’s first Campeones Cup title.
The competition brings together the reigning champions of Major League Soccer and Liga MX, making it a meeting between champions from the United States and Mexico.
For Inter Miami, the trophy adds another chapter to the club’s development since Messi joined in 2023. The club had already won the Leagues Cup in 2023, Supporters’ Shield in 2024 and MLS Cup in 2026.
The Campeones Cup therefore continues a run of trophy-winning seasons for the club.
Another Milestone for Messi in His Miami Journey
Messi’s arrival changed the profile of Inter Miami and brought worldwide attention to the club.
Since joining in 2023, he has produced goals, assists and important performances in major matches. His latest achievement adds another statistical milestone to his Miami career.
Reaching 100 goals in only 115 appearances is particularly notable because the majority of those goals have come during a relatively short period.
According to Inter Miami’s official breakdown, Messi scored 43 goals during the 2025 season alone, while he had already reached 23 goals during 2026 by the time of the Campeones Cup final.
The 100th goal also came at an important moment for the club.
Instead of simply reaching the milestone during an ordinary league match, Messi scored it in a championship final and then contributed the assist for the decisive second goal.
A winning start for Cristian Kily Gonzalez
The Campeones Cup final was also important for Inter Miami’s new head coach, Cristian “Kily” González.
The victory came in his first match in charge, giving him a trophy immediately at the beginning of his tenure. Inter Miami’s official report confirmed that the match represented a winning debut for González.
That made the night memorable from a coaching perspective as well as for the players.
The coach could also celebrate knowing that his team handled a difficult match against Cruz Azul, survived periods of pressure and finished strongly.
What the victory means for inter Miami
The Campeones Cup triumph gives Inter Miami another piece of silverware and continues the club’s recent success.
More importantly, the victory showed that Miami could win a final in different ways.
They did not dominate every statistical category. Instead, they relied on individual quality, efficient finishing and important defensive saves.
Messi opened the scoring.
Casemiro delivered the second goal.
St. Clair helped protect the lead.
And the team managed the closing stages to secure the trophy.
That combination was enough to produce a 2–0 victory.
Messi wins the campeones cup MVP award
Messi’s contribution was recognized after the match when he was named the Campeones Cup MVP.
His performance included the milestone goal and the assist for Casemiro’s winner. MLS also highlighted the 100th goal as the defining moment of the match.
For Messi, it was another example of producing a decisive performance on a major occasion.
Inter Miami’s next challenge
After celebrating the Campeones Cup victory, Inter Miami will return their attention to MLS competition.
The club is scheduled to host San Diego FC on September 20, 2026, in MLS regular-season action.
The challenge now is to carry the momentum from the cup victory into the remainder of the MLS season.
For Messi, the next matches will provide another opportunity to add to his 100-goal Inter Miami record.
Final thoughts
The 2026 Campeones Cup final produced a memorable night for Inter Miami.
A rare Messi header opened the scoring and gave the Argentine his 100th goal for the club. Later, another header—this time from Casemiro—sealed a 2–0 victory over Cruz Azul.
The result gave Inter Miami their first Campeones Cup title, while Messi finished with one goal and one assist and was named the tournament’s MVP.
For Inter Miami supporters, the night combined three important achievements: a new trophy, Messi’s historic 100th goal and a decisive performance from Casemiro.
The Messi era in Miami has already produced several memorable moments, and this Campeones Cup final added another one to that growing list.
