49th title and world records: Messi's milestone goal helped Inter Miami win the Champions Cup.
The match held at Miami's "New Stadium" ended in a 2–0 victory for the home team. Argentine forward Lionel Messi opened the scoring in the 24th minute, finding the net following a pass from Luis Suárez. Midfielder Casemiro sealed the final score in the 81st minute, scoring off an assist provided by Messi himself.
This goal marked a milestone for the 39-year-old Argentine: his 100th for the Florida club (across all competitions) and the 929th of his professional career. Furthermore, Messi set a new all-time MLS record by becoming the fastest player in league history to reach the 100-goal mark, achieving this feat in just 115 matches. During those matches, he also recorded 55 assists. Moreover, thanks to this decisive goal, Messi brought his total tally of goals scored in official finals to 36, becoming the all-time leading goalscorer in finals in the history of world football.
With the victory over Cruz Azul, Messi also extended his world record for the most trophies won. This cup marked the 49th title of the star forward's career. He now leads the Brazilian Dani Alves—who holds second place in this regard—by four titles.
It is worth noting that the Campeones Cup is an annual, single-match tournament held since 2018. The title is contested by the reigning MLS champion and the winner of the Mexican Liga MX "Campeón de Campeones" (Champion of Champions) trophy. Last year, the Mexican club Toluca won the tournament. It is worth adding that Messi has been playing for Inter Miami since the summer of 2023. The current contract between the parties runs until the end of December 2028, and the player's transfer value is currently estimated at €15 million.
