Lionel Messi once again took center stage on a championship night. The Argentine led Inter Miami to a 2-0 victory over Cruz Azul in the Campeones Cup final, securing the 49th title of his professional career.
Messi Wins 49th Career Title After Lifting the Campeones Cup
Lionel Messi continues to add to his historic trophy collection. The Argentine scored and provided an assist in Inter Miami's 2-0 victory over Cruz Azul to win the Campeones Cup and secure the 49th title of his career.
The triumph also marked Cristian "Kily" González's first trophy as head coach of the Florida club and Messi's fourth since joining Inter Miami, following the 2023 Leagues Cup, the 2024 Supporters' Shield and the 2025 MLS Cup.
Messi Reaches 100 Goals With Inter Miami
Cruz Azul started the match with more possession and control but failed to turn that dominance into clear scoring opportunities. Messi, who initially struggled to find space, began drifting toward the right wing and even approached Cristian González to discuss possible solutions.
The response was immediate. In the 24th minute, Luis Suárez delivered a cross from the right and Messi arrived inside the box to head the ball into the net and open the scoring.
In addition to putting Inter Miami on course for the championship, the goal carried special significance: it was the Argentine's 100th goal for the club.
Casemiro Seals the Final
Cruz Azul, coached by Joel Huiqui, attempted to respond in the second half with several changes to the lineup. Gabriel Fernández came close to finding the equalizer with a shot following a delivery from Alan Mozo, but the ball struck the post.
As the Mexican side pushed harder for an equalizer, Casemiro stepped up. The Brazilian had already played a crucial role in dealing with Cruz Azul's crosses before eventually putting the game away in the 81st minute.
Messi delivered a corner kick and Casemiro took advantage of the service to score the decisive 2-0 goal, securing another celebration for Inter Miami.
With this triumph, Messi reaches 49 career titles and continues to add to one of the most decorated résumés in soccer history. Inter Miami, meanwhile, add another trophy to their collection as they continue to pursue one of their major remaining objectives: winning the Concacaf Champions Cup.
