MIAMI – Lionel Messi scoring a trophy-clinching goal for Inter Miami CF at their sparkling new home? These are the kind of nights Nu Stadium was built for.
Sure enough, the legendary No. 10 made the dream come true Wednesday evening, scoring a stunning header for his 100th Miami goal and adding a late assist in a 2-0 win over LIGA MX powerhouse Cruz Azul that clinched the 2026 Michelob ULTRA Campeones Cup.
Now, the Herons have four titles to their name during the Messi era, including a first-ever piece of silverware at their state-of-the-art, 26,700-seat home ground in downtown Miami.
“I don’t have words to describe what I’m feeling,” new head coach Cristian “Kily” González told reporters after beginning his tenure with a trophy.
“It’s joy, happiness, so many emotions. Leo told me he’d make me a champion, so he kept his word.”
Historic night
When Nu Stadium officially opened in April, Inter Miami managing owner Jorge Mas celebrated the occasion as “a new chapter of lifting additional trophies.”
Five months later, Messi & Co. delivered as promised, outclassing the reigning LIGA MX and Campeón de Campeones winners with a vintage performance from the iconic captain.
Messi went airborne in the 24th minute to nod home Luis Suárez’s cross, setting the stage for a memorable night as he scored his 100th goal across all competitions for the Herons. He then linked up with marquee summer signing Casemiro in the 81st minute, the Brazilian international heading Messi’s corner kick past goalkeeper Kevin Mier to wrap up the title.
As expected, Mas reveled in the moment he’s fantasized about for months, if not years.
“I’ve always said Inter Miami is being built to lift trophies,” Mas told Apple TV amid the post-game festivities. “Obviously, it helps to have the best player in the world of all time, Lionel Messi… I think we saw vintage Messi tonight.
“And looking forward to more. We’ve still got a lot to play for. I want to lift another. It's the first trophy we lift in our new stadium, so it's an amazing night. And we're going to continue pushing, pushing the envelope, aspiring to be the best team in the Americas.”
Unmatched success
With Wednesday’s heroics, Messi extended his record trophy haul to 48 titles between club and country.
Fresh off leading Argentina to the 2026 FIFA World Cup final over the summer, the most decorated soccer player of all time initially took the winner’s podium on his own, lifting the Superior Player of the Match award as the Nu Stadium crowd roared its approval.
His teammates joined him shortly after for the official trophy ceremony, before returning to the pitch to show off their latest piece of silverware to La Familia supporters’ group.
“This guy always wants to win, and it's an inspiration. Because when you see him doing it, it's contagious,” All-Star midfielder Yannick Bright said of Messi.
“I’m happy. I'm honored. Honestly, it's the highlight of my life having him as a teammate. And I mean, thank him for everything.”
Trophy tradition
Scenes like Wednesday night's motivated Miami to pull off arguably the biggest signing in MLS history in July 2023, landing the Argentine icon as he departed Paris Saint-Germain.
An A-list supporting cast of Suárez and the since-retired Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba (who attended Wednesday’s game), among others, have helped the two-time Landon Donovan MLS MVP win a trophy in each of his four seasons in South Florida.
However, something was missing during the club’s memorable Leagues Cup 2023, 2024 MLS Supporters’ Shield and MLS Cup 2025 presented by Audi-winning campaigns: a permanent place to call home.
That changed with Nu Stadium opening this year. The championship vibes are also different, now the Herons have new digs where they can further build their legacy.
“Listen to the fans right now; this is what it is to play here,” said goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair. “The standard, the expectation is to be able to lift trophies every season.”
González embraces that standard as he ushers in a new era.
“Like I said yesterday, you can be assured that this team will give everything to win many more trophies," González said.
