The Inter Miami vs Cruz Azul clash delivered a memorable night for Lionel Messi and Inter Miami as the MLS side defeated the Mexican club 2-0 to lift the Campeones Cup on Wednesday.
Messi scored the opening goal in the 24th minute, reaching 100 goals for Inter Miami across all competitions. Casemiro then added a second goal in the 81st minute to seal the victory and another major trophy for the Florida club.
Inter Miami vs Cruz Azul: Messi Reaches 100 Goals
The biggest storyline from the inter miami – cruz azul matchup was Messi’s landmark goal.
The Argentine forward headed in a cross from Luis Suárez in the 24th minute to put Miami ahead. The goal was Messi’s 100th for the club in just 115 appearances across all competitions.
The milestone also carried extra significance because Cruz Azul was the opponent against whom Messi scored his first goal for Inter Miami.
That memorable debut came in July 2023, when Messi scored a stoppage-time free kick to give Miami a 2-1 victory over Cruz Azul.
Casemiro Doubles Miami’s Lead
While Messi provided the breakthrough, Casemiro finished the job for Inter de Miami.
The Brazilian midfielder headed home a corner delivered by Messi in the 81st minute, giving Miami a 2-0 advantage and effectively putting the Cruz Azul vs Inter Miami contest beyond reach.
Casemiro has also developed a strong scoring run, with all four of his recent goals coming from headers. He had scored in three straight matches against CF Montreal, Atlanta United and Chicago before failing to score against Nashville.
His goal against Cruz Azul added another important moment to his impressive recent run.
Inter Miami Win the Campeones Cup
The victory secured the Campeones Cup for Inter Miami and gave the club another trophy during the Messi era.
Miami’s recent trophy haul now includes the Leagues Cup in 2023, the Supporters’ Shield in 2024, the MLS Cup in 2025 and the Campeones Cup in 2026.
For new head coach Cristian “Kily” González, it was an especially significant start. González took charge after Guillermo Hoyos and won a trophy in his very first match as Miami’s coach.
Cruz Azul vs Miami: What Happened?
The Cruz Azul vs Miami matchup remained competitive early on, but Messi’s 24th-minute header gave Inter Miami the advantage.
Cruz Azul could not find an equalizer, while Miami remained organized before Casemiro’s late header provided the decisive second goal.
The final score was:
Inter Miami 2-0 Cruz Azul
Goals:
- Lionel Messi — 24′
- Casemiro — 81′
The result means Miami vs Cruz Azul ended with Inter Miami lifting the Campeones Cup in front of its home supporters.
Inter Miami’s Next Match
Following the inter miami vs. cruz azul victory, Miami will return to MLS action on Sunday against San Diego FC at Nu Stadium.
Inter Miami enters that match second in the Eastern Conference, behind Nashville SC.
For Messi and his teammates, the Campeones Cup triumph adds further momentum as the club continues its MLS campaign and looks to build on another trophy-winning season.
Inter Miami vs Cruz Azul Final Score
The inter miami vs Cruz Azul encounter ultimately belonged to the home side. Messi’s 100th Inter Miami goal provided the headline moment, while Casemiro’s second-half header completed a 2-0 victory.
For Cruz Azul, the defeat ended its hopes of claiming the Campeones Cup, while Inter Miami added another trophy to its growing collection.
With Messi continuing to produce historic milestones and Miami collecting silverware, the Cruz Azul vs. Inter Miami meeting will be remembered as another important chapter in the club’s rapidly developing history.
Leave a Reply