FOOTBALL – LIONEL Messi reached another career milestone as Inter Miami claimed the Campeones Cup with a 2-0 victory over Cruz Azul on Wednesday.
Messi opened the scoring in the 24th minute, rising to meet a cross from former Barcelona team-mate Luis Suarez and heading home his 100th goal for the Major League Soccer club in his 115th appearance.
Inter Miami doubled their advantage nine minutes from full time when Brazilian midfielder Casemiro rose highest to head in Messi’s corner.
The goal continued Casemiro’s remarkable recent run, with all four of his goals in his last five matches coming from headers since his summer move from Manchester United.
The triumph added another piece of silverware to Inter Miami’s rapidly growing collection since Messi arrived in 2023.
The club have since lifted the Leagues Cup, Supporters’ Shield and MLS Cup, while Wednesday’s success delivered their latest major honour.
For Messi, the victory represented the 48th trophy of a glittering career spanning club and international football.
The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner enjoyed a trophy-laden spell with Barcelona, winning 10 LaLiga titles and four Uefa Champions League crowns, before adding two Ligue 1 championships during his time at Paris Saint-Germain.
His international career with Argentina also produced some of football’s biggest honours, including the 2022 Fifa World Cup and Copa America triumphs in 2021 and 2024.
Messi, 39, recently ended his international career following Argentina’s defeat by Spain in the 2026 World Cup final. He finished with 207 appearances and 125 goals for his country, records that leave him as Argentina’s most-capped player and all-time leading scorer.
The Campeones Cup, contested annually between the MLS Cup champions and a leading Mexican club, was being staged for the eighth time.
Cruz Azul were seeking their first title in the competition after also losing the 2021 final. Mexican clubs had won the previous three editions before Inter Miami ended that run with Wednesday’s victory.