Inter Miami defeated Cruz Azul 2-0 to claim the 2026 Campeones Cup at Nu Stadium, with Lionel Messi scoring his historic 100th goal for the club and Casemiro sealing the victory.
Match Summary
Inter Miami CF secured their first Campeones Cup title with a clinical 2-0 victory over Liga MX side Cruz Azul on Wednesday night at Nu Stadium in Miami . The win marked a fifth trophy in club history and delivered a winning debut for new head coach Cristian “Kily” González .
Lionel Messi opened the scoring in the 24th minute with a rare headed goal, becoming the first player in Inter Miami history to reach 100 goals for the club . Casemiro doubled the advantage in the 81st minute, heading home a Messi corner to seal the championship .
Messi’s Historic Milestone
Messi’s 100th goal for Inter Miami came in his 115th appearance across all competitions . The milestone goal broke down across his seasons: 11 goals in 2023, 23 in 2024, 43 in 2025, and 23 so far in 2026 .
The goal itself was uncharacteristic for the Argentine maestro—a diving header from close range after Luis Suárez delivered a precise cross from the right flank . It was a fitting moment for a player who has now won a trophy in each of his four seasons with the Herons .
Messi also turned provider for the decisive second goal, his 15th assist of the 2026 season across all competitions . The victory extended his career trophy haul to 48 titles between club and country .
How the Match Unfolded
First Half
Cruz Azul started brightly, with José Paradela forcing an early save from Inter Miami goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair in the sixth minute . The Mexican side controlled much of the opening exchanges, holding 52% possession .
However, Inter Miami’s star quality proved decisive against the run of play. In the 24th minute, Suárez found space on the right and delivered a perfectly weighted cross for Messi to head past Kevin Mier . Suárez nearly doubled the lead himself minutes later, but his improvised lob was cleared off the line by Willer Ditta .
Second Half
Cruz Azul intensified their pressure after the break. Gabriel Fernández struck the post with a glancing header, and the Mexican champions continued to threaten . The visitors finished the match with 17 shots to Inter Miami’s 7, but only managed four on target .
The decisive moment came in the 81st minute when Messi whipped in a corner from the left. Casemiro rose unmarked and planted a powerful header into the bottom corner, effectively ending Cruz Azul’s resistance .
St. Clair preserved the clean sheet with a crucial save from a stoppage-time free kick, finishing the night with six saves total .
Key Statistics
| Statistic | Inter Miami | Cruz Azul |
|---|---|---|
| Possession | 48% | 52% |
| Shots | 7 | 17 |
| Shots on Target | 3 | 4 |
| Saves | 6 | 0 |
| Corners | 4 | 6 |
| Fouls | 13 | 15 |
Source: Inter Miami CF official match recap
Despite being outshot by a significant margin, Inter Miami’s efficiency proved decisive. The Herons converted two of their three shots on target while overperforming their 1.21 expected goals (xG), while Cruz Azul generated just 0.63 xG from their 17 attempts .
What This Means for Both Clubs
Inter Miami
The victory provides a significant boost for Inter Miami, who have struggled for consistency in MLS play with just one win in their last five league matches . The Campeones Cup represents their first silverware of the 2026 season and validates the club’s big-game mentality.
For Messi, the triumph comes after a challenging summer that saw Argentina fall to Spain in the 2026 World Cup final, followed by the death of his father and his subsequent retirement from international football . David Beckham publicly backed Messi for a ninth Ballon d’Or following the performance .
Cruz Azul
Cruz Azul manager Joel Huiqui was candid in his post-match assessment, admitting his side failed to deliver their best performance . “It’s a hard blow for us, for the team, but I trust I have a great squad,” Huiqui said . He dismissed the team’s troubled travel to Miami as an excuse, accepting responsibility for the collective failures .
The Mexican side had entered the match on a three-game winning streak, including an impressive 4-3 victory over Club América in the Clásico Joven . However, they were unable to translate their domestic form onto the international stage.
Head-to-Head Context
Wednesday’s match was just the second-ever meeting between the clubs. Their only previous encounter came in the 2023 Leagues Cup, a 2-1 Inter Miami victory in which Messi scored a dramatic stoppage-time free kick on his debut for the club .
Messi’s record against Liga MX opposition now stands at four wins, one draw, and one loss in official competitions, with five goals scored .
Conclusion
Inter Miami’s 2-0 victory over Cruz Azul in the 2026 Campeones Cup will be remembered primarily for one moment: Lionel Messi rising to head home his 100th goal for the club. At 39 years old, the Argentine continues to deliver on the biggest stages, adding yet another trophy to his unprecedented collection. For Cruz Azul, the defeat represents a missed opportunity to claim international bragging rights, though their manager’s honest assessment suggests the club will use the disappointment as motivation for the remainder of their Liga MX campaign.
