Inter Miami adds to trophy case with first Campeones Cup title in Gonzalez debut
During the Lionel Messi era at Inter Miami, the club’s aim has been to win as many championships as possible.
From 2023 to 2025, Messi and his teammates had been able to hoist at least one trophy each year - most recently winning their first MLS Cup title last December.
But the trophy case hadn’t had any new additions in 2026.
That changed on Wednesday night.
The lift Inter Miami was looking for under recently-hired head coach Kily Gonzalez came quickly thanks to goals from Lionel Messi and Casemiro, which coupled with a needed stellar defensive performance, propelled the club to a 2-0 victory over Cruz Azul in the annual Campeones Cup championship.
Miami’s first MLS Cup title punched its ticket into Wednesday’s match, which pits the reigning MLS champ against Liga MX’s reigning Campeon de Campeones in a winner-take-all match.
A near capacity crowd, which had a large contingent of Cruz Azul fans, saw Messi score his 100th career goal in an Inter Miami uniform across all competitions off a long, pinpoint cross from Luis Suarez in the 24th minute.
Messi’s 100th Miami goal was the 929th overall in his career, and wasn’t a typical Messi goal. Instead of using his foot, Messi jumped high and connected on a beautiful header off Suarez’s feed to help Inter Miami break through.
The goal came against Cruz Azul just as his first goal for Inter Miami was in a Leagues Cup match in July 2023. It was Messi’s 49th career championship trophy. Messi was also named the game’s Most Valuable Player.
“Leo told me before the game we were going to be champions, and he lived up to that statement,” Gonzalez said.
Inter Miami, which had only won once in its past nine matches, and had only four shutouts in 25 matches, stifled Cruz Azul behind goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair and a strong effort from its defense.
St. Clair made three spectacular saves in the first half and recorded only his third clean sheet this season. It was Inter Miami’s first since July 25th when it beat Montreal 1-0 - snapping a string of nine matches without a shutout. St. Clair made his seventh consecutive start since returning to the starting lineup.
“We have a lot of pride and happiness to be able to sacrifice a lot to come here and make things happen for moments like this and win trophies,” St. Clair told Apple TV in a postgame interview. “This is only one and we’re going to push for more...The expectation is to win trophies every season.”
Miami then picked up an insurance goal in the 81st minute when Messi delivered a perfectly-placed corner kick to Casemiro, who leapt high and headed it past Cruz Azul goalkeeper Kevin Mier. It was Casemiro’s fourth goal across all competitions since joining Inter Miami following the World Cup break.
Cruz Azul’s best chance came in the 67th minute when it nearly tied the match. Gabriel Fernandez’s redirect went off the post. Casemiro then blocked a follow up shot by Jose Paradela.
Cruz Azul had entered the game with momentum after beating Club América in the Liga MX Clásica Joven, 4-3, over the weekend. Cruz Azul had scored three or more goals in three of its last four games away from home.
Gonzalez, who signed a contract through June 2028, is Inter Miami’s sixth coach in seven seasons. Gonzalez was hired 19 days before the Campeones Cup to take over for Guillermo Hoyos, but was unable to join the club immediately. He finally received his work visa this week and joined the team on Tuesday for training.
“We did an intense job thanks to these players who stayed for a longer practice than usual despite some hot temperatures and were willing to correct things that needed correcting for some time, and I couldn’t be more grateful to them,” Gonzalez said.
Gonzalez, who is from Messi’s hometown of Rosario, Argentina, and has deep ties with Messi.
His starting lineup had Facundo Mura starting for injured Ian Fray, who is dealing with a hip injury. And it had Matias Galarza starting for Telasco Segovia.
Micael and Sergio Reguilon also checked into the game in the 71st minute subbing in for German Berterame and Fricio Caicedo.
The question now becomes whether Inter Miami can carry this momentum into MLS play and make a run at a second consecutive MLS Cup championship?
Inter Miami is nine points behind Nashville for the top record in MLS and a possible Supporter’s Shield, a trophy it won in 2024 after winning the Leagues Cup in 2023. That push continues Sunday when Miami plays its next league match at Nu Stadium against San Diego.
“It’s an important win for us, but we have to keep going,” Gonzalez said. “We have to keep improving a lot of things and we have another match to play.”
MESSI CONFRONTS GARBER
After an on-field postgame celebration, Inter Miami’s players and coaches received the Campeones Cup and Messi received his Player of the Match trophy. Messi was then seen approaching MLS Commissioner Don Garber and seemed visibly upset as he said something to him.
Video surfaced online that showed Messi waving his finger side to side and mouthing the word “No” to Garber. He confronted Garber three times during the exchange before walking away.
This story was originally published September 16, 2026 at 10:12 PM with the headline "Inter Miami adds to trophy case with first Campeones Cup title in Gonzalez debut."
