Messi Scores 100th Inter Miami Goal in First Campeones Cup Triumph
Lionel Messi reached 100 goals for Inter Miami as the MLS side beat Cruz Azul 2-0 at Nu Stadium to win the Campeones Cup for the first time. The Argentine opened the scoring after 24 minutes and later created Casemiro’s late goal, producing the decisive actions in a meeting between the American and Mexican cup holders.
Messi milestone drives Inter Miami to first Campeones Cup
Messi headed Luis Suárez’s cross into the net to give Inter Miami an early advantage, bringing up his century of goals for the club since his move to the United States.
Cruz Azul remained in the contest until the closing stages, but Miami secured the trophy in the 81st minute. Messi’s corner found Casemiro, whose header sealed a 2-0 result and delivered a first Campeones Cup success for the Herons.
- 24th minute: Messi headed in from Suárez’s delivery to score his 100th Inter Miami goal.
- Inter Miami protected their one-goal lead through the middle phase of the match.
- 81st minute: Casemiro converted Messi’s corner to confirm the 2-0 victory.
Ballon d’Or case strengthened by club and World Cup form
The result followed a significant summer for Messi with Argentina. He helped take the national team to the 2026 World Cup final, recording eight goals and four assists before Spain won the final.
Messi now has 21 World Cup goals, placing him second on the competition’s all-time scoring list behind Kylian Mbappé, while he holds the outright record for World Cup assists. He retired from international football in August, allowing him to concentrate fully on Inter Miami’s remaining domestic campaign.
David Beckham believes Messi’s continued influence at the age of 39 should put him at the front of the Ballon d’Or race. “Nobody at 39 is performing at that level,” the Inter Miami co-owner said, arguing that Messi should win the award.
Casemiro, whose finish settled the Campeones Cup, also called for supporters to value Messi’s remaining years in the game. The midfielder said football should enjoy what Messi continues to produce, describing him as still the best and citing both his World Cup displays and MLS form.
Competitive field awaits before London ceremony
A ninth Ballon d’Or would extend Messi’s record as the most successful player in the history of the France Football prize, first awarded in 1956. The 2026 shortlist contains 30 players, including England’s Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham, Real Madrid forwards Mbappé and Vinícius Júnior, six members of Spain’s World Cup-winning squad and nine Paris Saint-Germain nominees.
The 70th-anniversary Ballon d’Or ceremony is scheduled for London on 26 October. Messi’s World Cup contribution and sustained return for Inter Miami keep him among the leading candidates despite the depth of European competition.
What the victory means for Miami
- Messi’s goal moved him to 100 for Inter Miami, underlining his impact on the club’s rise in MLS.
- Casemiro’s 81st-minute header gave Miami their first Campeones Cup trophy.
- Messi’s retirement from Argentina duty leaves club football as his sole competitive focus.
- His future remains under consideration following the recent death of his father, Jorge, giving added weight to each remaining appearance.
Inter Miami will return to domestic competition carrying both a new trophy and renewed momentum. For Messi, the immediate task is to sustain his club form through the end of the season while the Ballon d’Or verdict approaches.
