Inter Miami delivered exactly the kind of storybook night that’s become almost routine for this club since a certain Argentine legend walked through its doors in 2023. On Wednesday, September 16, at the club’s own Nu Stadium, Inter Miami defeated Cruz Azul 2-0 to lift the Campeones Cup — and the milestone attached to the opening goal made the night genuinely historic rather than just another trophy added to an already crowded cabinet.
Inter Miami vs Cruz Azul carried unmistakable symbolic weight from the very first whistle. Lionel Messi opened the scoring in the 24th minute, heading home a cross from Luis Suárez for the 100th goal of his Inter Miami career — reaching the milestone in just 115 appearances across all competitions. Remarkably, the club Messi scored his very first Inter Miami goal against, back in his dramatic July 2023 debut, was the very same opponent standing across from him as he reached the century mark.
Inter Miami vs Cruz Azul Live: How the Final Unfolded
Inter Miami vs Cruz Azul live action at Nu Stadium built toward its defining moment through a smoothly worked passage of play. Rodrigo De Paul slipped a through ball out wide to Luis Suárez, who lifted his head and picked out Messi inside the 18-yard box. Rising above Cruz Azul defender Willer Ditta, Messi directed a firm header beyond goalkeeper Kevin Mier to open the scoring — a finish that instantly became the story of the night before a ball had even been kicked in the second half.
Cruz Azul pushed to respond but found no way past a well-organised Inter Miami defence, and any hope of a comeback was extinguished in the 81st minute when Casemiro doubled the lead, heading in a corner delivered by Messi himself — turning provider into scorer’s assist in a tidy bit of symmetry on a night already dripping with milestones.
Inter Miami vs Cruz Azul: Campeones Cup Final Result
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Final Score | Inter Miami 2-0 Cruz Azul |
| Venue | Nu Stadium, Miami |
| Date | Wednesday, September 16, 2026 |
| Competition | Campeones Cup 2026 |
| Goal Scorers | Lionel Messi (24′), Casemiro (81′) |
| Inter Miami Manager | Cristian Gonzalez (debut match) |
Inter Miami vs Cruz Azul Timeline: The Two Meetings That Bookend an Era
Inter Miami vs Cruz Azul timeline carries a genuinely remarkable symmetry once you place both matches side by side. Messi’s very first goal for Inter Miami came against this exact opponent, in stoppage time of his club debut in July 2023 — a stunning 25-yard free kick that gave Inter Miami a dramatic 2-1 win and instantly became one of the most replayed moments in MLS history. More than three years later, Cruz Azul found themselves on the receiving end of another Messi milestone, this time his landmark 100th goal for the club.
Inter Miami vs Cruz Azul: Two Milestone Meetings
| Match | Date | Result | Messi’s Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leagues Cup (Inter Miami Debut) | July 21, 2023 | Inter Miami won 2-1 | Scored dramatic 94th-minute free-kick winner |
| Campeones Cup Final | September 16, 2026 | Inter Miami won 2-0 | Scored 100th club goal, header in 24th minute |
Messi Total Goals: Breaking Down the Journey to 100
Messi total goals for Inter Miami now stand at exactly 100, reached across 115 appearances in all competitions — a scoring rate that averages out to almost a goal every game since his arrival. According to the club’s own official figures, his year-by-year tally reads: 11 goals in 2023, 23 in 2024, 43 in 2025, and 23 so far in 2026, illustrating just how much his output accelerated once he fully settled into life in Major League Soccer.
Messi’s Inter Miami Goal Tally by Year
| Year | Goals Scored |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 11 |
| 2024 | 23 |
| 2025 | 43 |
| 2026 (So Far) | 23 |
| Total | 100 |
Inter Miami CF: A Trophy Cabinet That Keeps Growing
Inter Miami CF has genuinely transformed since Messi’s arrival, and this Campeones Cup triumph extends an extraordinary run. According to reporting around the match, Inter Miami hasn’t had a single season with Messi where they haven’t won at least one trophy — a run that now includes the Leagues Cup, the Supporters’ Shield, the MLS Cup, and now the Campeones Cup. This particular win also christened Nu Stadium with its very first trophy since the venue opened in April 2026.
Adding a further layer of storyline to the night, this victory came in new head coach Cristian Gonzalez’s very first match in charge — about as ideal a start to a managerial tenure as any coach could hope for.
Campeones Cup: What the Trophy Actually Represents
Campeones Cup is an annual one-off match contested between the reigning champions of MLS and Liga MX, pitting North America’s two most prominent football leagues against each other in a single high-stakes fixture. Inter Miami earned their place in this year’s final by virtue of their MLS Cup triumph, while Cruz Azul represented Liga MX’s championship pedigree — making this genuinely a clash between two title-winning sides rather than just another mid-season friendly-style fixture.
Inter Miami vs Cruz Azul Stats: The Numbers Behind the Result
Inter Miami vs Cruz Azul stats from the night reflect a match that Inter Miami controlled at the key moments, even as Cruz Azul grew into the contest after falling behind. Casemiro’s goal was notably his fourth in his last five starts for the club, continuing an excellent recent run of form for the Brazilian midfielder, who scored in three consecutive matches against CF Montreal, Atlanta United, and Chicago before being held scoreless against Nashville just days earlier.
Cruz Azul’s night was further complicated by injury concerns, with Facundo Mora forced off in the 75th minute, and the visitors already missing defender Ian Fray heading into the match — factors that likely contributed to Inter Miami’s control over the closing stages.
Inter Miami Today Match: Why This Result Matters Going Forward
Inter Miami today match result carries genuine momentum heading into the rest of the season. Having snapped what had been a winless stretch heading into the final, Inter Miami now turns its attention back toward defending their MLS Cup title, even as Nashville SC currently looks well-positioned atop the Eastern Conference regular-season standings. With the Campeones Cup now secured, the Herons head into the business end of the MLS calendar with renewed confidence and a fresh trophy to show for it.
Inter Miami Games: What’s Been Building Toward This Moment
Inter Miami games across the 2026 season have shown a team capable of grinding through difficult stretches before delivering at the right moments, and this final fit that pattern closely. Coming off a scoreless outing against Nashville, few would have expected Casemiro and Messi to combine for such a clinical performance days later, but that inconsistency-to-brilliance swing has become something of a hallmark for this Inter Miami side under pressure in cup finals specifically.
Frequently Asked Questions About Inter Miami vs Cruz Azul
1. What was the final score of Inter Miami vs Cruz Azul?
Inter Miami won 2-0, with goals from Lionel Messi in the 24th minute and Casemiro in the 81st minute.
2. How many goals has Messi scored for Inter Miami?
Messi has scored 100 goals for Inter Miami across 115 appearances in all competitions, reaching the milestone against Cruz Azul in the Campeones Cup final.
3. Is the Campeones Cup an official trophy?
Yes, the Campeones Cup is an official annual trophy contested between the reigning MLS champion and the reigning Liga MX champion.
4. What is the latest news about Inter Miami?
Inter Miami’s latest major news is their 2-0 win over Cruz Azul to win the 2026 Campeones Cup, with Messi scoring his landmark 100th club goal in new head coach Cristian Gonzalez’s first match in charge.
5. Who offered Messi 1.5 billion?
Reports indicate Al-Ittihad’s president stated he had offered Messi a deal worth €1.4 billion (not exactly $1.5 billion, though some reports have cited similar figures) to join the Saudi Pro League after his PSG contract ended. Messi turned the offer down, reportedly citing family reasons, and chose to remain with Inter Miami.
6. Did Lionel Messi get fined?
Messi was fined 2 million euros as part of a historic 2017 Spanish tax fraud case, separate from his time at Inter Miami, after offering an additional fine to avoid a prison sentence that was ultimately suspended. This is unrelated to any recent Inter Miami news.
7. Where was the Inter Miami vs Cruz Azul final played?
The match was played at Nu Stadium in Miami, marking the venue’s first trophy since it opened in April 2026.
8. Who is Inter Miami’s head coach?
Cristian Gonzalez is Inter Miami’s head coach, and the Campeones Cup final against Cruz Azul was his first match in charge of the club.
9. What other trophies has Inter Miami won since Messi’s arrival?
Since Messi joined in 2023, Inter Miami has won the Leagues Cup, the Supporters’ Shield, the MLS Cup, and now the Campeones Cup.
10. Did Messi score against Cruz Azul before this match?
Yes, Messi’s very first goal for Inter Miami came against Cruz Azul, a dramatic stoppage-time free-kick in his July 2023 club debut.
