Lionel Messi rewrote Inter Miami's record books on Thursday, 17 September 2026, netting his 100th goal for the club as Inter Miami defeated LIGA MX side Cruz Azul 2-0 at Nu Stadium to lift the Campeones Cup for a record fifth time. The Argentine captain reached the milestone in just 115 appearances across all competitions — the first player in the club's history to do so.

How the Goals Fell

Messi broke the deadlock in the 24th minute, converting a precise cross from Luis Suarez with a header from inside the box. It was a trademark finish — clinical, understated, historic. Cruz Azul had tested Inter Miami early, with goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair producing a fine save to deny Jose Paradela in the 6th minute.

The Mexican side continued to threaten through the first half and into the second, but Inter Miami held firm. Messi then delivered a corner from the left in the 81st minute, and Casemiro rose above the defence to head home and double the lead. It was Casemiro's fourth goal since joining the club in the summer, while Messi registered his 15th assist across all competitions in 2026. St. Clair finished with six saves, including a crucial stop in stoppage time to preserve the clean sheet.

Messi's 100-Goal Journey

Messi arrived in South Florida in the summer of 2023, transforming Inter Miami from a mid-table MLS outfit into a trophy-winning machine. His century of goals has been spread across four seasons: 11 in 2023, 23 in 2024, 43 in 2025, and 23 so far in 2026. The progression tells its own story — a player who, far from winding down, has accelerated his output year on year in the American game.

Inter Miami's Trophy Cabinet Grows

The Campeones Cup triumph is the club's latest piece of silverware in what has become a remarkable run under Messi's captaincy. He was central to Inter Miami's historic first four trophies: the 2023 League Cup, the 2024 MLS Supporters' Shield, the 2025 Eastern Conference title, and the 2025 MLS Cup. This Campeones Cup is the fifth, cementing Inter Miami's status as the dominant force in North American club football.

A Winning Start for New Coach Gonzalez

The victory also served as a dream debut for new head coach Cristian Gonzalez, who took charge of Inter Miami for the first time in a championship match. Winning a continental cup on his first outing sets an expectation that will be hard to temper. How Gonzalez manages a squad built around an ageing but still-brilliant Messi — and whether he can sustain this level through an MLS season — will define his early tenure.