Inter Miami Cruz Azul ended with a 2-0 victory for Inter Miami on Wednesday night, September 16, as Lionel Messi scored his 100th goal for the club and helped Miami capture the 2026 Campeones Cup at Nu Stadium.
The championship delivered several major milestones at once. Messi scored the opening goal, assisted on the second, and was named the match’s Most Valuable Player. Casemiro added the insurance goal in the 81st minute, while Miami secured its first Campeones Cup title.
The result also gave Inter Miami a trophy in each of the four seasons since Messi joined the club. Miami previously won the Leagues Cup in 2023, the Supporters’ Shield in 2024 and MLS Cup in 2025.
For Messi, the night created a particularly memorable connection with Cruz Azul. His first goal for Inter Miami came against the same opponent during the 2023 Leagues Cup. His 100th arrived against Cruz Azul three years later.
Inter Miami Cruz Azul Match Result
Inter Miami defeated Cruz Azul 2-0 in the 2026 Campeones Cup.
The scoring timeline was straightforward:
- 24th minute: Lionel Messi scored for Inter Miami.
- 81st minute: Casemiro scored for Inter Miami.
- Final: Inter Miami 2, Cruz Azul 0.
Miami controlled the most important moments of the match despite Cruz Azul producing a dangerous second-half opportunity.
The result gave Inter Miami another piece of silverware and ended Cruz Azul’s attempt to add another international title to its recent domestic success.
Messi Reaches 100 Goals for Inter Miami
The defining moment arrived in the 24th minute.
Luis Suárez delivered the ball into the penalty area, and Messi made a late run toward the target. The Argentine rose above Willer Ditta and directed a header into the net.
That finish became the 100th goal of Messi’s Inter Miami career.
It was also a rare type of goal for the Argentine superstar. Messi has scored the overwhelming majority of his Inter Miami goals with his feet, making the milestone header particularly memorable.
Miami confirmed that Messi reached the 100-goal mark in his 115th appearance for the club across all competitions.
His scoring record has developed quickly since his arrival in 2023. He scored 11 goals during his first season, followed by 23 in 2024, 43 in 2025 and 23 during the 2026 campaign before reaching the milestone against Cruz Azul.
The achievement placed Messi at the center of another major Inter Miami occasion.
The Connection Between Messi and Cruz Azul
The identity of the opponent made the milestone even more notable.
Messi’s first Inter Miami goal also came against Cruz Azul.
That goal arrived during the 2023 Leagues Cup, when Messi made his Inter Miami debut. He scored a stoppage-time free kick to give Miami a 2-1 victory.
More than three years later, Cruz Azul became the opponent for Messi’s 100th Miami goal.
The two matches were dramatically different. In 2023, Messi entered his first Miami match as a second-half substitute and scored the winner late.
In 2026, he started the championship match, scored in the first half and later created another goal.
Both games ended with Inter Miami defeating Cruz Azul.
Miami Takes the Lead in the First Half
The opening 45 minutes featured a competitive battle between the MLS Cup holders and the Liga MX champions.
Miami looked for Messi whenever it moved into the attacking third. Cruz Azul attempted to keep its defensive shape and limit the space around the Argentine.
The breakthrough came when Suárez found Messi inside the box.
Messi’s movement created the opening, and his header gave Miami a 1-0 lead.
The goal immediately changed the dynamics of the match.
Cruz Azul now had to chase an equalizer against a Miami side that could rely on experienced players to manage the tempo.
Miami nearly added another goal shortly afterward. Suárez attempted to chip goalkeeper Kevin Mier, but Willer Ditta cleared the effort off the line.
That defensive intervention kept Cruz Azul within one goal.
Cruz Azul Creates Its Best Opportunity
Cruz Azul increased its attacking pressure after halftime.
The Mexican side needed only one goal to draw level, and its best opportunity came through Gabriel Fernández.
Fernández redirected a header toward goal, but the attempt struck the post.
The rebound then presented another opportunity. José Paradela moved toward the loose ball, but Casemiro intervened and prevented Cruz Azul from completing the sequence.
The play was important because an equalizer could have changed the entire championship.
Instead, Miami survived the most dangerous period of Cruz Azul’s attack.
The score remained 1-0, leaving Miami one successful attacking move away from creating a two-goal cushion.
Casemiro Doubles the Lead
That second goal finally arrived in the 81st minute.
Messi stepped up for a corner kick and delivered the ball into the penalty area. Casemiro rose above the defense and headed the ball into the net.
The goal made it 2-0 and effectively ended Cruz Azul’s hopes of forcing the championship into a different finish.
It also continued Casemiro’s recent scoring run for Miami.
The Brazilian midfielder entered the match having scored in three consecutive games before being held scoreless against Nashville. His goal against Cruz Azul became his fourth in his last five matches, with all four coming through headers.
The timing was ideal for Miami.
Cruz Azul had already shown it could threaten the home defense, but Casemiro’s goal gave Miami the margin it needed to close out the championship.
Messi Produces a Goal and an Assist
Messi finished the match with one goal and one assist.
His first contribution created the historic moment of the evening. His second directly produced the championship-clinching goal.
That made him the central attacking figure throughout the match.
The 100th goal also showed another part of Messi’s evolution at Inter Miami. Rather than relying only on his familiar left-footed finishing, he used movement and timing to score with his head.
Later, his delivery from a corner allowed Casemiro to provide the final goal.
Messi was subsequently named the Campeones Cup’s Most Valuable Player.
First Campeones Cup Title for Inter Miami
The victory gave Inter Miami its first Campeones Cup championship.
The competition brings together the reigning MLS Cup champion and the reigning Liga MX Campeón de Campeones winner.
Miami entered the match as the MLS representative after winning the 2025 MLS Cup. Cruz Azul qualified after securing the Liga MX title pathway that sent it into the Campeones Cup.
The 2026 championship therefore placed two reigning champions against one another.
Miami emerged with the trophy after scoring twice and keeping Cruz Azul off the scoreboard.
The win also continued a remarkable run of annual silverware for Inter Miami.
Since Messi arrived, the club has won at least one trophy in every season.
Inter Miami’s Trophy Run Since Messi Arrived
Miami’s recent trophy history now includes four major titles during Messi’s time at the club.
| Year | Competition | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Leagues Cup | Inter Miami champion |
| 2024 | Supporters’ Shield | Inter Miami champion |
| 2025 | MLS Cup | Inter Miami champion |
| 2026 | Campeones Cup | Inter Miami champion |
The latest championship also became the first trophy lifted by Miami at Nu Stadium.
That gave the victory additional significance for the club and its supporters.
The new stadium opened during the 2026 season, and the Campeones Cup provided an immediate opportunity for Miami to create a major championship memory at its new home.
A Trophy in the First Match Under Cristian González
The result also marked the beginning of Cristian “Kily” González’s tenure as Inter Miami head coach.
The Argentine coach had recently taken charge of the club.
His first match therefore came in a championship setting against one of Liga MX’s strongest clubs.
The outcome could hardly have been more definitive from a results perspective.
Miami scored twice, prevented Cruz Azul from scoring and lifted the trophy.
González also inherited a squad featuring Messi, Suárez, Casemiro, Rodrigo De Paul and other experienced players.
The opening match under the new coach immediately became a championship occasion.
Nu Stadium Hosts a Major Miami Celebration
The location added another layer to the night.
Nu Stadium provided the setting for the championship, giving Miami the opportunity to celebrate its first trophy at its new home.
The stadium crowd witnessed Messi reach 100 goals for the club before watching Casemiro secure the trophy late in the match.
For a club that has experienced rapid growth since Messi’s arrival, the occasion represented another major step.
The celebration also featured Inter Miami co-owner David Beckham and other club figures alongside the players.
The combination of a new stadium, a new coach, a new trophy and Messi’s 100th goal made the evening one of the club’s most significant nights of 2026.
Cruz Azul Leaves Miami Without the Trophy
Cruz Azul entered the match with its own strong credentials.
The Mexican club had won the Liga MX Clausura championship and then secured the Campeón de Campeones title.
Those achievements placed Cruz Azul in the position of representing Liga MX against the MLS champion.
Its performance in Miami included several promising attacking moments.
The Fernández header that struck the post was particularly important. A goal from that sequence would have brought Cruz Azul level and placed additional pressure on Miami.
Instead, the chance disappeared.
Miami then scored through Casemiro, leaving Cruz Azul with too little time to recover.
A Different Kind of Messi Milestone
Messi’s 100th Inter Miami goal also provides a snapshot of his production for the club.
Inter Miami confirmed the milestone came in 115 appearances across all competitions.
His goals have come during a period in which Miami transformed itself into a championship-winning club.
The sequence is notable because Messi did not simply accumulate individual statistics. His arrival coincided with a run of team trophies.
The 2023 Leagues Cup was followed by the 2024 Supporters’ Shield, the 2025 MLS Cup and now the 2026 Campeones Cup.
The latest trophy arrived on the same night that Messi reached his 100-goal landmark.
The MLS-Liga MX Rivalry Continues
The championship also mattered at the league level.
The Campeones Cup represents a direct meeting between MLS and Liga MX champions.
Miami’s victory brought MLS level with Liga MX in the competition’s all-time championship record at four victories each.
That gives the annual competition another layer of significance.
The match was not simply an individual milestone for Messi or another trophy for Miami. It also became part of the broader competitive history between the two leading professional soccer leagues in North America.
Miami’s 2-0 victory ensured that MLS would leave the 2026 meeting with another championship.
The Importance of the 2-0 Scoreline
Miami’s final score reflected two different phases of the match.
The first goal came relatively early, allowing Miami to establish control.
The second arrived late, after Cruz Azul had already created its strongest opportunity.
That timing mattered.
A 1-0 lead always left the match open to a single mistake or attacking breakthrough. Cruz Azul’s effort against the post demonstrated that danger.
Casemiro’s 81st-minute header removed much of that uncertainty.
The final 2-0 scoreline also meant Miami could celebrate without conceding a goal.
What Comes Next for Inter Miami
Inter Miami now returns its attention to the MLS regular season.
The club is scheduled to host San Diego FC on Sunday, September 20, at 7 p.m. Eastern Time.
The championship does not provide additional regular-season points, so Miami must quickly shift its focus back to the league table.
The team enters that match near the top of the Eastern Conference.
For González, the challenge will be maintaining momentum while managing the squad after a high-intensity championship match.
Messi and his teammates will now have another regular-season fixture to navigate after securing the Campeones Cup.
What Comes Next for Cruz Azul
Cruz Azul also returns quickly to domestic competition.
Its next scheduled match is against CF Monterrey on Saturday, September 19, in Liga MX Apertura action.
The match comes only days after the defeat in Miami.
Cruz Azul will therefore have little time to dwell on the result.
The club’s domestic campaign remains an important part of its season, and the Monterrey match provides its next competitive test.
A Milestone That Matches the Occasion
Messi’s 100th Inter Miami goal could hardly have arrived in a more significant setting.
The goal came in a championship match.
It came against Cruz Azul, the same team he faced when he scored his first goal for Miami.
It came at Nu Stadium.
And it helped Inter Miami win another trophy.
The Argentine then added an assist on Casemiro’s goal, giving him a direct role in both scoring moments.
That combination turned a statistical milestone into part of a championship celebration.
A New Chapter for Inter Miami
The 2-0 victory over Cruz Azul added another trophy to an increasingly successful period for Inter Miami.
Messi supplied the first goal and the assist for the second. Casemiro delivered the decisive header. Cruz Azul hit the post during its attempt to respond, but Miami ultimately protected its advantage.
The final whistle confirmed Inter Miami as Campeones Cup champion for the first time.
The victory also continued Miami’s streak of winning a trophy in every season since Messi joined the club.
For supporters, the night brought together several moments that will remain closely linked: Messi’s 100th goal, the first Campeones Cup title, the first trophy at Nu Stadium and the beginning of González’s tenure with a championship.
Inter Miami’s victory over Cruz Azul delivered another unforgettable chapter for Messi and the club—share your thoughts on the championship and keep following the latest developments from Miami.