Lionel Messi Scores 100th Miami Goal to Clinch Campeones Cup

Lionel Messi delivered a milestone performance to win his first trophy of the season. The Argentine star scored his 100th goal for Inter Miami with a first-half header, setting his team on course for a 2-0 victory over Cruz Azul in the Campeones Cup on Wednesday night. The win handed new coach Cristian "Kily" González a trophy in his debut match in charge.

Messi's historic goal came in the 24th minute at Nu Stadium. Luis Suárez provided a perfect cross from the right, and Messi outjumped his marker to score a rare header. It was his 100th goal in just 115 games for the club, the fastest he has ever reached that mark with any team. A late header from Casemiro sealed the win. "Leo told me I was going to become a champion, and he made it happen," said González, who led his first training session just a day earlier. Teammate Rodrigo de Paul remarked on the enduring magic, saying, "We have to enjoy him, admire him, see him with the love that he plays each game."

Following his international retirement last month, Messi has been called up for a special farewell. The Argentinian football association (AFA) confirmed he will play a final home friendly on 6 October against Benin at Buenos Aires' Monumental Stadium. AFA president Claudio Tapia called it a "deserved farewell" for the icon. Messi, along with Rodrigo de Paul and Giovani Lo Celso, will attend the final match of a three-game friendly window. Argentina will also face Bolivia on 30 September and Burkina Faso on 3 October.

Yes, Messi is set to purchase the entirety of Spanish club Deportivo Eldense. The deal with the current Colombian owners, TH Soluciones Group, is pending final due diligence and approval from Spain's High Council for Sports. Ruben Alfaro, the mayor of Elda, confirmed an agreement in principle. This follows Messi's purchase of a stake in UE Cornellà, a fifth-division Catalan club, in April 2026. Owning Eldense, an Alicante-based club with a 5,800-seat stadium, would significantly boost his involvement in Spanish football and youth development.

The Campeones Cup victory provided a vital morale boost for a team stuck in a difficult patch. Before Wednesday's final, Inter Miami had won just once in nine games. On Sunday, Messi had scored his 99th club goal in a 2-2 draw with Nashville, a result that kept Miami nine points behind the Eastern Conference leaders. The team had been eliminated early from both the Leagues Cup and the Concacaf Champions Cup this season, making this one-off trophy an important piece of silverware.

• KEY TAKEAWAYS: Messi scored his 100th Inter Miami goal in 115 games, a personal record. He will play a farewell match for Argentina on 6 October. Messi is finalizing a deal to become the sole owner of Spanish club Deportivo Eldense.