Inter Miami captain Lionel Messi has lifted another major trophy after leading the club to a 2-0 victory over Cruz Azul in the 2026 Campeones Cup at Nu Stadium.
Softfootball understands that Messi played a decisive role in the triumph, scoring the opening goal before contributing an assist for Casemiro’s late second-half header. The victory gave Inter Miami their first Campeones Cup title and another piece of silverware since Messi’s arrival in South Florida.
Messi opened the scoring in the 24th minute with a header from Luis Suárez’s cross, reaching 100 goals for Inter Miami in the process. The Argentine later delivered the corner that Casemiro converted in the 81st minute to secure the trophy.
The latest success also adds to Messi’s remarkable trophy collection, with Major League Soccer reporting that the 2026 Campeones Cup extended his record haul to 48 major trophies. Inter Miami have now won a trophy in every season since Messi joined the club in 2023.
Messi’s latest achievement comes as the debate surrounding the 2026 Ballon d’Or continues to intensify. Atlético Madrid manager Diego Simeone has publicly backed his fellow Argentine, pointing to Messi’s performances at the 2026 World Cup and his impact despite being 39 years old.
Simeone made clear that, in his view, Messi should receive the prestigious individual award, placing him ahead of other leading contenders such as Lamine Yamal and Kylian Mbappé.
With another trophy now secured and his individual numbers continuing to grow, Messi remains firmly at the centre of the 2026 Ballon d’Or conversation.
