Messi Floats And Scores a WILD Header | Inter Miami vs Cruz Azul | Full Match Highlights
#InterMiami #Messi #CampeonesCup
Lionel Messi and Inter Miami took on Cruz Azul in the 2026 Campeones Cup final at Nu Stadium in Miami, with new head coach Kily González making his debut and the Liga MX side hoping to keep the trophy in Mexico. Dayne St. Clair denied José Paradela early, Luis Suárez appealed for a penalty, and he later chipped the Cruz Azul goalkeeper only for Willer Ditta to clear off the line. Then Messi found the breakthrough. In the 24th minute he rose to meet a Suárez cross and headed Inter Miami in front, scoring his 100th goal for the club and becoming the first Inter Miami player to reach the mark. St. Clair also kept out Agustín Palavecino before the break.
Inter Miami won the Campeones Cup 2-0 thanks to Messi’s historic header and Casemiro’s 81st-minute goal. Messi had a second goal ruled out for offside in the second half, and Cruz Azul, who outshot Miami 18 to 7, hit the post through a Gabriel Fernández header in the 67th minute, with Casemiro blocking the follow-up. Then Messi swung in a corner and Casemiro rose to head home and make it 2-0. The result levelled the all-time Campeones Cup series against Liga MX at four wins each, gave Inter Miami the fifth title in club history and earned Messi Player of the Match honours.
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Video Summary
AI GeneratedInter Miami secured the 2026 Campeones Cup title in a tense match against Cruz Azul. Despite strong pressure and several opportunities from Cruz Azul, Inter Miami's offensive stars and a decisive goal from Casemiro ensured their victory, crowning them champions in their new stadium.
Terrific atmosphere at New Stadium for the start
of tonight's Campeones Cup 2026 with Danny Higginbotham
and Andrew Levy, I'm Steve Cangelosi, it's tense in Argentina,
here we go, underway, Cruz Azul petitions,
they are amped up to face this man, Lionel Messi on the ball,
beats his man one on one, Lira with the ball, played in and a shot,
repelled, it's behind the net, early opportunity for Cruz Azul.
And this is what Cruz Azul will be looking at them.
Rodrigo de Paul finds Moura and plays it ahead.
The edge of the 18.
Suarez works it across.
Is there anything
Messi can't do?
Here's Messi.
Walks on.
Charlie Rodriguez takes it between two defenders.
Gets the shot away.
Not enough to bother Dean St. Clair.
Off the head of Leroy, but this will fall.
Messi again.
And wants to...
Messi.
With a beautiful ball delivered off the chest,
Suarez cleared off the line.
Dita headed it over the bar and it's out for a corner.
You can see Bertrami going over to Suarez now to give him a hug
because he knows that Suarez was trying to find him.
Good job, so.
His gravity and the way that he can just take players out of the game.
He is just a genius.
If you run out of...
Pellevacino turning with it beautifully.
Agostini plays to the top of the box.
Return for Lionel Messi.
Here's old.
Here's old boy, youth player.
Brought out here to play this ball ahead.
Traffic behind him and gets the motor going.
Lionel Messi tripped up top of the box.
Garcia there.
No foul.
They got away with one there.
Cruisin'.
Suarez going for it.
Mier.
Well wide of goal, now Messi, looks at the...
Rodriguez for Palavicino, he's feeling it!
Sinclair up for the challenge, parries it over the bar.
To defend, Cruz Azul trying to make something of this still.
They touch it out wide, Moura, he plays ahead.
Got a great into the attack, that's cleaned up by Cruz's...
The right side of that front three.
That's right.
Suarez in the 18, some contact in the area,
referee says no foul, we play on.
To do with that, this ball takes a fortunate bounce
and dangerous doings in the Miami area.
The shot is deflected out.
Another corner coming up this time from the near side.
Casemiro getting in the way.
Marquez, they work it across, take it out of him with it.
Plays ahead quickly.
Now Suarez going over the top.
Messi to get on this.
Lionel Messi racing.
There's number two.
And one-on-one for the career does go up and the celebration curtails.
How close was it?
It's the correct decision.
Definitely the correct decision.
The assistant referee doesn't put his flag up,
but you can see Suarez plays the ball.
Messi's just gone a little bit too early.
On the ball, the switch to the right.
Lionel Messi, edge of the 18.
Wanted to recover us.
Getting instructions across to all his players whenever he can.
Look at Lionel Messi go.
Takes a touch from behind.
Still Messi undeterred.
Brought down.
Referee right there.
He had the bird's eye view.
This is a live ball and it's taken here by the goalkeeper, Mier.
It's really good defending, Ribitia.
I don't know if you can see.
Marquez gives it a go. Shoes to fill. Vicente Chances. Here's a chance.
Ibanez played it across. Maybe it was a shot. It's into no man's land.
I think it was a shot. I think he recognised there
was nobody up there with him.
15 day wait for a work visa. First game in charge tonight.
Messi is fouled. Free kick from the optimum spot on the field.
They want to play this quickly. Here we go.
And Bertrand to lay this off, taken at the top of the box.
Mozo again, by Cohn-Police again, a chance off the bar.
Casemiro with the necessary intervention.
Now,
that's what they're trying to do, and it's one substitute to the other.
The right wing back, Mozo, played.
Right and left, Messi on the move, works it across.
Another ball from the fullback, this ball brought down in the 18.
Yes.
Swings this ball out, there's number two, the all-important next goal.
And who else? Casemiro!
Foot time, he's put it in off,
and Inter-Miami can see a light at the end of the tunnel,
up by two, 81st minute, in position to win Campeones Cup now.
There's a new aerial boss in town, his name, Casemiro.
Garcia got clipped, this play continues.
Comes up on the top of the netting.
Rodriguez, Dita, gives it a go, long range.
Mozo's had a fair amount of the ball since coming on.
The fullback trying to race on to this.
There's Falcone looking to shepherd that ball out.
Well done.
I don't know. I think I'm close.
Plays this ball ahead.
They work it to the top.
Waits for the reinforcements, including Messi on the ball.
Taken here by Suarez.
Messi in the danger area too.
Luis Suarez.
Anadil Eterny wins
the free kick.
And the time is now for La Machina.
Yellow card out of the pocket of the...
It'll be Paradella. Save made.
St. Clair hasn't had to answer the call a lot. Big stop there.
It's a big save. He sees it all the way.
He's got it all ahead.
The back of the net.
Ibanez by Casemiro again and taken here by De Paul.
Yellow card as the ball is taken away from Rodrigo De Paul.
Put in but taken by Panadella for Cruz Azul.
Work to do from with fresh legs takes this into the 18.
That ball is straddled.
Mikael available off the bench.
Initial shot is blocked away at the top of the box.
Piovi into the box. That ball off the head of Fernandez is wide.
Gets himself into good positions.
He's won a number of headers in the box so far as well.
Seeking out Galarza. Dita to Placido. Trying to find another gear.
Blows past De Paul. Messi turning. Plays centrally.
Lifted into the 18, and this ball takes the flexion out.
Miami to go to work with an early corner in the second half.
Good play from the substitute.
Piovi sees the run.
Under some duress in their own area.
That's Suarez.
Dita is called for the foul.
He's furious.
He did brilliant there, Suarez.
He did.
Montreal.
Falcone, a game left.
Rodriguez for a ninth Ballon d'Or.
Service by Messi, and the shot attempt goes.
Cruz Azul last.
Another corner coming up together.
Into Miami, Bertadami, lost.
Now La Máquina looks for the answer.
To the far side, this is headed into space.
Inter Miami for this club.
We are getting fatigued.
Maxi Falcone back to defend.
Panadella in the danger area.
This is handled and taken here by Dane St. Clair.
Falcone, new coach, new stadium, new trophy won.
Inter Miami, your 2026 Campeones Cup champions.