Messi leads Inter Miami to Campeones Cup triumph

Lionel Messi headed a goal and provided an assist as Inter Miami won the Campeones Cup on Wednesday, beating Cruz Azul 2-0 in the annual clash between Major League Soccer and Mexican Liga MX champions. It was Inter Miami's first Campeones Cup triumph and came thanks to the Argentine superstar's 100th goal for the reigning MLS Cup winners. A late Messi corner was headed home by Casemiro to seal the win. Victory gave Messi his first trophy of the year, two months after the heartbreak of losing the 2026 World Cup final to Spain with Argentina. The trophy came in new head coach Cristian "Kily" Gonzalez's first game in charge of Miami. Argentine manager Gonzalez was appointed last month, but due to visa delays only took his first training sessions this week. The annual Campeones Cup pits the previous year's MLS Cup winner against the winner of Mexico's Campeon de Campeones. It was the eighth edition of the cup, which is always hosted by the MLS participant. Mexican teams had won the three most recent editions before Miami's victory on Wednesday. Mexican giants Cruz Azul have still never won the Campeones Cup. They lost the 2021 final. (AFP) Edited by Aaron Tam