Lionel Messi added yet another major honour to his extraordinary career on Wednesday night, leading Inter Miami to a 2-0 victory over Mexican side Cruz Azul in the Campeones Cup final. The triumph marked Messi’s 49th career trophy and delivered the club its first Campeones Cup title.
Playing at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, the 39-year-old Argentine opened the scoring in the 24th minute with a rare headed goal — only the second header he has scored in a final, and his first since the 2009 UEFA Champions League final with Barcelona. The strike also represented Messi’s 100th goal for Inter Miami in just 114–115 appearances across all competitions since joining the club in 2023.
Casemiro sealed the win in the 81st minute, heading home from a Messi corner to secure the victory. The result extended Inter Miami’s run of silverware under Messi, following the 2023 Leagues Cup, 2024 Supporters’ Shield and 2025 MLS Cup. It is the fourth trophy Messi has helped the Herons win since his arrival, with silverware secured in every calendar year of his Miami tenure.
The Campeones Cup victory further widens Messi’s lead over longtime rival Cristiano Ronaldo in the all-time collective titles race. At 39, Messi continues to rewrite records while remaining central to Inter Miami’s success. Club co-owner David Beckham and new head coach Cristian “Kily” González both used the occasion to publicly endorse Messi for a potential record-extending ninth Ballon d’Or, citing his performances at club level and during Argentina’s run to the 2026 FIFA World Cup final.
Messi, already the most decorated player in football history, remains in contention for further honours this season, with the Supporters’ Shield and MLS Cup still available as Inter Miami chase a strong finish to the 2026 campaign.