By Ari Liljenwall
Another trophy for Lionel Messi. Another piece of history.
Messi added to his unparalleled collection Wednesday night, winning the record-extending 48th trophy of his legendary career as Inter Miami CF defeated Cruz Azul, 2-0, to capture the 2026 Michelob ULTRA Campeones Cup at Nu Stadium.
The Argentine superstar fittingly powered the Herons to another piece of silverware, scoring his 100th goal for Inter Miami before assisting Casemiro for the second. Messi opened the scoring with a 24th-minute header assisted by Luis Suárez, reaching the century mark just over three years after joining the club.
Inter Miami have now lifted a trophy in four consecutive seasons – every year since Messi’s transformative arrival in South Florida midway through the 2023 campaign.
Team success
Messi’s first season in Miami brought immediate success, as he guided the Herons to the Leagues Cup 2023 title – the first trophy in club history – just weeks after making his debut.
A year later, Miami captured the 2024 Supporters’ Shield, setting an MLS single-season points record with 74 points.
The club added their biggest prize yet in 2025, defeating Vancouver Whitecaps FC, 3-1, to win MLS Cup presented by Audi for the first time. Messi supplied two assists in the victory.
Now, the 2026 Campeones Cup keeps the streak alive.
Historic haul
As for Messi, the iconic No. 10 was already the sport’s most decorated player before Wednesday’s match. Now, his unprecedented collection stands at 48 trophies across a career spanning more than two decades.
The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner’s résumé includes 10 LaLiga titles and four UEFA Champions League crowns with FC Barcelona, two Ligue 1 titles with Paris Saint-Germain and a historic run of international success with Argentina, highlighted by the 2022 FIFA World Cup triumph and Copa América titles in 2021 and 2024.
Since joining Miami, Messi has added Leagues Cup, the Supporters’ Shield, MLS Cup and now Campeones Cup to that collection.
Miami’s streak continues
Wednesday’s victory also adds another chapter to the most successful era in Inter Miami’s young history.
The Herons entered Messi’s debut season in 2023 without a trophy since joining MLS as an expansion club in 2020. They’ve now celebrated silverware in four straight years:
- 2023: Leagues Cup
- 2024: Supporters’ Shield
- 2025: MLS Cup
- 2026: Campeones Cup
