Inter Miami defeated Cruz Azul 2-0 on Wednesday night to claim the Campeones Cup, with Lionel Messi delivering a historic moment for the club.
Messi opened the scoring in the 24th minute, heading home a cross from Luis Suárez to register his 100th goal in Inter Miami colors.
The milestone arrived in just 115 appearances across all competitions, making it the fastest Messi has ever reached a century of goals for any team he has represented.
By comparison, Messi reached 100 goals for Barcelona in 188 games and achieved the same tally for Argentina in 174 appearances, underlining how quickly he has settled in Miami.
The goal also carried a poetic symmetry, coming against the very club that Messi scored his first-ever Inter Miami goal against, a stoppage-time free kick in his debut back in July 2023.
The build-up to the opener was a sharp team move, with Rodrigo De Paul intercepting a Cruz Azul long ball and slipping a through ball to Suárez, who then picked out Messi inside the 18-yard box.
Elevating above defender Willer Ditta, Messi snapped a firm header into the back of the net, becoming the first player in franchise history to reach the century milestone.
Casemiro then put the result beyond doubt in the 81st minute, heading in a corner delivered by Messi to make it 2-0.
The Brazilian midfielder has now scored four goals, all headers, in his last five matches after netting in three consecutive games against CF Montréal, Atlanta United, and Chicago.
The victory handed new head coach Cristian “Kily” González a trophy in his very first match in charge of the club, a strong start to his tenure.
González had only led his first training session with Inter Miami on Tuesday, having arrived in Miami from Argentina that same morning after waiting on his work permit.
The club had originally reached an agreement with González to replace interim coach Guillermo Hoyos on August 27, making his Campeones Cup bow all the more remarkable.
Messi’s 100 Inter Miami goals have been spread across multiple competitions, including 76 in MLS, 14 in the Leagues Cup, eight in the Concacaf Champions Cup, and one at the FIFA Club World Cup.
He also continues to lead the MLS scoring charts this season, with 19 goals in 22 league appearances, and his overall club and country tally now sits at an extraordinary 929 goals.
Teammate Rodrigo De Paul was effusive in his praise following the victory, reflecting on what it means to share a pitch with Messi on a daily basis.
“It’s become a normality [for Messi] but it isn’t,” De Paul said. “We have to enjoy him, admire him, see him with the love that he plays each game. Luckily, I’ve had him by my side for many years. I try to enjoy him to the maximum.”
