Inter Miami 2–0 Cruz Azul | Campeones Cup Final | September 16, 2026
Lionel Messi reaches 100 Inter Miami goals as Miami claim another major piece of silverware
MIAMI — Inter Miami CF have added another memorable chapter to their rapidly growing history.
Playing at Nu Stadium, Inter Miami defeated Cruz Azul 2–0 in the 2026 Michelob ULTRA Campeones Cup, with Lionel Messi scoring his 100th goal for the club before Casemiro added the second goal late in the match.
The victory was significant for more than just the trophy. It came in the first match under newly appointed head coach Cristian “Kily” González, who took charge after Javier Mascherano’s departure earlier in the year.
Messi’s 100th Miami Goal Comes on a Historic Night
The opening goal arrived in the 24th minute.
Messi found the net with a header after a delivery from Luis Suárez, reaching the extraordinary milestone of 100 goals for Inter Miami.
It was another remarkable landmark in a Miami career that has transformed the club’s place on the North American soccer landscape.
Messi had already made history with Inter Miami against Cruz Azul once before. In July 2023, during his Miami debut, the Argentine superstar scored a dramatic late free-kick winner against the Mexican club in the Leagues Cup.
Three years later, the same opponent became the backdrop for another milestone — this time with a trophy at stake.
Casemiro Delivers the Finishing Touch
Cruz Azul entered the second half with the deficit still manageable, but Inter Miami remained in control of the contest.
The decisive second goal arrived in the 81st minute, when Casemiro found the net to make it 2–0.
The Brazilian midfielder’s goal effectively ended Cruz Azul’s hopes of a comeback and allowed Miami to close out the final without conceding. ESPN’s match report confirmed the final score as Inter Miami 2, Cruz Azul 0.
A Trophy in Kily González’s First Match
The timing of the victory makes the result even more notable.
Inter Miami announced González as the club’s new manager just one day before the Campeones Cup final. His contract runs through June 2028, and the Cruz Azul match became his first game in charge.
Few managerial debuts could offer a more dramatic setting: a one-match international final, a packed Miami stadium, Lionel Messi on the field and a trophy waiting at the end.
González now begins his Miami tenure with silverware.
What Is the Campeones Cup?
The Campeones Cup brings together the reigning champions of Major League Soccer and Liga MX.
The 2026 edition therefore placed Inter Miami, the reigning MLS champions, against Cruz Azul, representing Mexico’s Liga MX. Inter Miami’s own match preview described the contest as the club’s first battle for a trophy in the competition.
The match was scheduled for September 16 at 8 p.m. ET at Nu Stadium in Miami.
For Miami, the night ultimately delivered exactly what the occasion demanded: a championship and another unforgettable Messi moment.
From a Debut Free Kick to a 100th Goal
There is a remarkable symmetry to the story.
When Messi first arrived in Miami in 2023, his first appearance for the club was against Cruz Azul. He announced himself with a last-minute free kick that produced a 2–1 victory.
This time, Messi did not need a spectacular free kick.
He needed just 24 minutes to put his name in the history books again.
His 100th Miami goal makes Cruz Azul one of the most significant opponents in the early chapters of Messi’s Inter Miami story.
Miami’s Road to the Final
The Campeones Cup arrived during a demanding stretch for Inter Miami.
In August and early September, Miami’s results included a 7–1 victory over CF Montréal, draws against Atlanta United, Chicago Fire and Nashville SC, and a 1–1 result away at Chicago. The team had also endured difficult results earlier in August, including defeats against Nashville, Toronto and Monterrey.
Messi, however, continued to provide major attacking moments.
Against Nashville on September 13, just days before the final, he scored his 99th goal for Inter Miami, leaving him one goal away from the century mark.
He then completed the milestone against Cruz Azul.
What Comes Next for Inter Miami?
The celebration will be short.
Inter Miami return to MLS action against San Diego FC on September 20, followed by a September 26 meeting with Columbus Crew.
The Campeones Cup victory gives Miami another trophy, but the club’s domestic campaign remains an important part of the season’s final stretch.
For Messi, meanwhile, another landmark has arrived.
100 goals for Inter Miami. Another trophy. Another night that belongs in club history.
And once again, when Inter Miami needed a defining moment, Lionel Messi was at the center of it.
Inter Miami 2–0 Cruz Azul — Match Snapshot
Competition: 2026 Michelob ULTRA Campeones Cup
Date: September 16, 2026
Venue: Nu Stadium, Miami, Florida
Final: Inter Miami 2–0 Cruz Azul
Inter Miami scorers: Lionel Messi (24′), Casemiro (81′)
Historic milestone: Messi’s 100th goal for Inter Miami
Inter Miami manager: Cristian “Kily” González
Next MLS match: Inter Miami vs. San Diego FC — September 20, 2026
The Bottom Line
Inter Miami’s 2–0 victory over Cruz Azul was more than a one-night final. It combined a new coach, a major trophy and one of the biggest individual milestones in the club’s short history.
For Messi, the number 100 now sits beside his name in Miami.
For Inter Miami, another trophy now sits in the cabinet.
And for North American soccer, another chapter in the Messi era has been written.