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Messi opens Campeones Cup scoring with 100th goal for Miami

ESPN Thursday 17 September 2026, 01:41 UTC By Lizzy Becherano 1 min read
Key Points

Lionel Messi scored his 100th goal for Inter Miami in all competitions after heading home the opener against Cruz Azul in the Campeones Cup on Wednesday night at Nu Stadium. The goal put Miami up 1-0 in the annual match between the champion of MLS and Liga MX. The World Cup winner reached the milestone in just 114 games for Inter Miami, marking the fastest time Messi has recorded 100 goals for any team he's represented.

Lionel Messi scored his 100th goal for Inter Miami in all competitions after heading home the opener against Cruz Azul in the Campeones Cup on Wednesday night at Nu Stadium. The goal put Miami up 1-0 in the annual match between the champion of MLS and Liga MX. The World Cup winner reached the milestone in just 114 games for Inter Miami, marking the fastest time Messi has recorded 100 goals for any team he's represented. He previously reached the mark with Barcelona in 188 games and 174 games with Argentina. Since joining Miami in 2023, Messi has 76 goals in MLS, 14 in Leagues Cup action, eight in the Concacaf Champions Cup and one at the FIFA Club World Cup. Messi made an instant impact in south Florida since signing with Miami, leading the Herons to the 2023 Leagues Cup title just weeks after marking his debut against Cruz Azul -- the team he scored his first Miami goal for. The Inter Miami captain also guided the team to the 2024 Supporters' Shield -- setting the record for most points in a single MLS season along the way -- and starred in the playoffs during a run to the 2025 MLS Cup title. Messi has now scored 929 goals for club and country during his career and leads MLS with 19 goals in 22 games so far this season.
Messi (PERSON) Campeones Cup (ORG) Miami (LOCATION) Lionel Messi (PERSON) Inter Miami (LOCATION) Cruz Azul (PERSON) the Campeones Cup (EVENT) Nu Stadium (LOCATION) MLS (ORG) Liga MX (ORG) The World Cup (EVENT) Barcelona (LOCATION) Argentina (LOCATION) Leagues Cup (EVENT) the Concacaf Champions Cup (EVENT)
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