Lionel Messi scored his 100th career goal for Inter Miami and set up Casemiro’s late header as his team won the Campeones Cup 2-0 over Cruz Azul on Wednesday night.
The Campeones Cup is an annual match between the reigning MLS Cup champion and LIGA MX’s reigning Campeón de Campeones winner. This year it pitted Messi’s Inter Miami against Mexico’s Cruz Azul.
The match stayed level until the 24th minute at Inter Miami’s Nu Stadium. Luis Suárez delivered a cross from the right baseline, and Messi met it with a surging header in traffic to break the deadlock.
Messi’s goal was the 100th of his Inter Miami career.
Inter Miami added a second in the second half. Messi provided the assist, finding Casemiro with a corner kick in the 81st minute. Casemiro put the ball in the right side of the net to make it 2-0.
Miami’s defense and goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair kept Cruz Azul off the board for the rest of the match.
The Two Goals
| Goal | Minute | Assist |
|---|---|---|
| Messi’s opener | 24th | None |
| Casemiro’s second | 81st | Messi |
How the Night Played Out
The match opened with both sides locked in a tight contest at Inter Miami’s Nu Stadium. The deadlock held for 24 minutes before Messi found the breakthrough.
Suárez’s cross from the right baseline gave Messi the chance, and he rose through traffic to send the header to the back of the net. The goal gave Inter Miami the lead and marked a personal milestone for Messi.
Inter Miami did not stop there. With the chance to add insurance, Messi delivered again in the second half. He set up Casemiro with a corner kick in the 81st minute.
Casemiro put the ball in the right side of the net for a 2-0 lead that all but closed out the match. The win was secured by the work of the defense and goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair, who kept Cruz Azul off the board throughout.
The Numbers
- 100: Messi’s career goal total for Inter Miami
- 24th minute: When Messi scored the opener
- 81st minute: When Casemiro scored the second
- 2-0: Final score
The Campeones Cup has been held since 2018. It brings together the reigning champions of MLS Cup and LIGA MX’s Campeón de Campeones, and this year’s edition produced a memorable night for Messi and his teammates.
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