Messi scores his 100th goal for Inter Miami and leads them to Champions Cup victory

Argentine star Lionel Messi scored his 100th goal in an Inter Miami jersey, leading his team to a 2-0 victory over visitors Cruz Azul in the Campeones Cup on Wednesday. The annual match featured the champions of Major League Soccer and Liga MX.

Messi opened the scoring in the 29th minute with a header, raising his tally to 100 goals in 115 matches across all competitions since joining Inter Miami in 2023 from French club Paris Saint-Germain. He later provided a decisive corner kick that new Brazilian signing Casemiro headed into the net in the 81st minute.

The 39-year-old Messi claimed his first title of the year, two months after his national team lost 1-1 to Spain (after extra time) in the final of the North American World Cup qualifiers.

Casemiro, the Real Madrid midfielder and former Manchester United player, praised his teammate, saying, “We have to enjoy him because we don’t know how long he will continue playing.”

He added, “What he has given and continues to give to football is unbelievable... He remains the best. He proved it at the World Cup, and he continues to prove it in Major League Soccer.”

On his part, former England international David Beckham, co-founder of Inter Miami, stated that Messi deserves to win the Ballon d’Or for a ninth time in his career, further cementing his record. Beckham noted that Messi re-entered the competition this year thanks to his outstanding performance at the World Cup, where he scored eight goals.

Beckham added, “When you see him deliver such achievements tonight, when you see how he played in the World Cup... there is no 39-year-old player delivering such a performance at this level.”

Messi had announced his retirement from international football in late August and will play his final match for the Albiceleste on October 6 in Buenos Aires.

Messi broke the deadlock after receiving a pass from former Barcelona teammate Luis Suárez. The “Little Flea” rose above Colombian defender Wilmer Ditta to head the ball into the net in the 24th minute.

Suárez then played a ball to Mexican Germán Berterame, whose volley was pushed away by the goalkeeper off the goal line in the 32nd minute.

Early in the second half, Messi went on a solo run following a through ball from Suárez. His shot hit the post and crossed the line, but the goal was disallowed for offside.

Nine minutes before the end of regular time, Messi delivered a precise corner kick into the penalty area, which Casemiro finished with a low header into the far corner.

Inter Miami’s first-ever trophy came in the debut match of their new Argentine coach, Cristian “Cely” González, who was appointed last month but only began his technical duties this week due to visa delays.

This was the eighth edition of the Campeones Cup, traditionally hosted by American teams. Mexican clubs had won the previous three editions before Miami’s victory.

Cruz Azul, a giant of Mexican football, remains unable to win the Campeones Cup, having also lost the final in 2021.