INTRO
Lionel Messi scored his 100th Inter Miami goal as the club defeated Cruz Azul 2-0 to win the Campeones Cup on Wednesday.
BUENOS AIRES
Lionel Messi scored his 100th goal for Inter Miami as the club defeated Cruz Azul 2-0 to win the Campeones Cup on Wednesday night at Nu Stadium.
Messi reached the milestone in his 115th appearance for Inter Miami, making it the fastest he has scored 100 goals for any club or country. He previously reached the century mark in 188 games for Barcelona and 174 appearances for Argentina, according to ESPN.
Since joining Inter Miami in 2023, Messi has scored 76 goals in MLS, 14 in the Leagues Cup, eight in the Concacaf Champions Cup and one at the FIFA Club World Cup.
Messi opened the scoring in the 24th minute after Luis Suárez delivered a pinpoint cross from the right. The Argentine forward rose above his marker and headed the ball home to give Miami a 1-0 lead.
Cruz Azul could not find an equaliser as Miami protected its advantage before Casemiro sealed the victory with a late header. The result also handed new Inter Miami head coach Cristian “Kily” González a trophy in his first match in charge.
González credited Messi for helping deliver the title, saying, “Leo Messi told me I was going to become a champion, and he made it happen.” He added that the victory would provide the team with a morale boost and said they must continue working after the achievement.
The Campeones Cup is an annual meeting between the MLS and Liga MX champions. Messi’s latest milestone further adds to his growing record at Inter Miami, where he has continued to score across domestic and continental competitions since arriving in 2023. His achievement marked another significant moment in his club career.
