Lionel Messi and Inter Miami confirmed their starting lineup for the 2026 Campeones Cup final against Cruz Azul, and the Argentine delivered in the biggest possible way — heading home his 100th goal for the club to set up a 2-0 win at Nu Stadium in Miami. If you searched for “Cruz Azul vs Inter Miami lineups,” here is everything you need: both confirmed starting XIs, substitutes, formations, the full match recap, key stats, and answers to the most-asked questions about this Campeones Cup final.
Quick Answer: Final Score and Lineups at a Glance
- Final Score: Inter Miami 2-0 Cruz Azul
- Competition: 2026 Michelob ULTRA Campeones Cup Final
- Venue: Nu Stadium, Miami, Florida
- Date: Wednesday, September 16, 2026 (kickoff 8:00 PM ET)
- Goalscorers: Lionel Messi (24′), Casemiro (81′)
- Inter Miami Formation: 4-3-3
- Cruz Azul Formation: 5-3-2 / 5-4-1
- Player of the Match: Lionel Messi
Cruz Azul vs Inter Miami Lineups: Confirmed Starting XIs
Here are the exact confirmed starting lineups both managers named for the Campeones Cup final, straight from the official team sheets.
Inter Miami CF Starting XI (4-3-3)
- Goalkeeper: Dayne St. Clair
- Defenders: Facundo Mura, Maximiliano Falcón, Casemiro, Fricio Caicedo
- Midfielders: Rodrigo De Paul, Yannick Bright, Matías Galarza
- Forwards: Germán Berterame, Lionel Messi (Captain), Luis Suárez
Inter Miami Substitutes
Rocco Ríos Novo (GK), Sergio Reguilón, Gonzalo Luján, Micael, David Ayala, Alexander Shaw, Daniel Pinter
Cruz Azul Starting XI (5-3-2)
- Goalkeeper: Kevin Mier
- Defenders: Jeremy Márquez, Willer Ditta, Amaury García, Jesús Orozco, Carlos Rotondi
- Midfielders: José Paradela, Érik Lira (Captain), Agustín Palavecino, Carlos Rodríguez
- Forward: Nicolás Ibáñez
Cruz Azul Notable Absences
Cruz Azul were without Mateo Levy and Amaury Morales, both sidelined through injury heading into the final.
Why These Lineups Mattered
Both managers made selections that reflected the size of the occasion. Inter Miami’s Kily González — making his managerial debut in charge of the club — opted for a settled 4-3-3 built around his most experienced attacking trio of Messi, Suárez, and Berterame, while trusting Casemiro to slot into defense alongside the returning Falcón. Cruz Azul manager Joel Huiqui went with a more cautious 5-3-2 setup, prioritizing defensive solidity against Inter Miami’s attacking talent while still fielding captain Érik Lira and the creative Palavecino in midfield to try to trouble Miami on the counter.
The Messi Factor in the Lineup News
In the days before the match, the biggest storyline dominating “Cruz Azul vs Inter Miami lineups” searches was a simple question: is Messi playing? Reports throughout matchday confirmed he trained normally and was fully available, with Inter Miami’s only fitness doubt being Telasco Segovia, who picked up a knock in the previous MLS match against Nashville SC. Segovia did not feature in the matchday squad, but Messi’s inclusion as captain was never seriously in question, and he went on to deliver one of the most memorable performances of his Inter Miami career.
Full Match Recap: How Inter Miami Won the 2026 Campeones Cup
First Half: Messi’s Historic 100th Goal
Inter Miami broke the deadlock in the 24th minute in the most fitting way possible. Luis Suárez whipped in a pinpoint cross from the right, and Messi rose above Cruz Azul defender Willer Ditta to head the ball past goalkeeper Kevin Mier. The goal was significant on two levels: it gave Inter Miami the lead in a Campeones Cup final, and it marked the 100th goal of Messi’s Inter Miami career — a milestone made even more poetic by the fact that his very first goal for the club had also come against Cruz Azul, back in 2023.
Cruz Azul struggled to create clear chances in the opening 45 minutes, managing one dangerous long-range effort that forced a save from Dayne St. Clair, but otherwise found Inter Miami’s back line well-organized under the wet conditions that developed as rain began falling over Nu Stadium.
Second Half: Casemiro Doubles the Lead
Cruz Azul pushed for an equalizer after the break, with playmaker Agustín Palavecino weaving past two defenders before forcing another save from St. Clair — arguably La Máquina’s best chance of the match. But Inter Miami extended their advantage in the 81st minute through a well-worked set piece: Messi swung in a corner from the left, and Casemiro rose unmarked to power a header past Mier, making it his fourth goal in five appearances since his summer arrival at the club.
Cruz Azul threw players forward in the closing stages, but a string of defensive interventions — including a flying save from St. Clair off a stoppage-time free kick — preserved Inter Miami’s clean sheet, their first in 12 matches across all competitions, and sealed the 2-0 victory.
Match Stats Summary
Despite the scoreline, Cruz Azul actually shaded the possession battle, with Inter Miami controlling the ball roughly 48 percent of the time to Cruz Azul’s 52 percent. Cruz Azul also attempted more shots overall across the match, but Inter Miami were clinical, converting both of their clearest chances while La Máquina lacked the finishing quality to punish their own spells of pressure.
Key Storylines from the Campeones Cup Final
A Winning Managerial Debut for Kily González
The final marked Cristian “Kily” González’s first match in charge of Inter Miami, with previous manager Ángel Guillermo Hoyos no longer at the helm heading into the game. Few managers get to lift a trophy in their very first match, and González’s tactical setup — trusting his most experienced attacking players in a settled 4-3-3 — paid off immediately.
Messi’s Remarkable Goal Breakdown
Messi’s 100th goal for Inter Miami capped a career milestone with a detailed breakdown that tells its own story about his evolution as a player even in his late 30s: 69 of his 100 Inter Miami goals have come with his left foot, 9 with his right, 10 from free kicks, 6 from headers (including this one), 5 from penalty kicks, and even 1 with his chest. The header against Cruz Azul added another trophy — the 49th of his legendary career — to his cabinet.
The Campeones Cup’s Historic Series Tie
Inter Miami’s win leveled the all-time Campeones Cup series between MLS and Liga MX clubs at 4-4, ending a stretch in which Liga MX sides had dominated the competition — no MLS club had won the Campeones Cup since 2022 prior to this result. It was Inter Miami’s first-ever Campeones Cup title and the fifth trophy in the club’s history.
A New Stadium’s First Trophy
The win also christened Nu Stadium with its first piece of silverware since the venue opened in April 2026, giving Inter Miami’s new home an immediate place in the club’s history books.
Injury Concern for Facundo Mura
Not everything went smoothly for Inter Miami — defender Facundo Mura was forced off with an injury in the 75th minute, with Cruz Azul already missing key personnel of their own, requiring González to bring on Gonzalo Luján to see out the closing stages.
Tactical Breakdown: How the Formations Played Out
Inter Miami’s 4-3-3 in Practice
On paper, Kily González’s 4-3-3 looked conventional, but in practice it flexed constantly depending on possession. When Inter Miami had the ball, Casemiro frequently dropped into a auxiliary midfield role alongside Yannick Bright, effectively turning the shape into a back three with De Paul pushing higher — a common wrinkle for sides featuring a converted center-back with genuine midfield pedigree. Out of possession, the team reverted to a compact 4-3-3 mid-block, inviting Cruz Azul to have the ball in deeper areas while cutting off passing lanes into Palavecino and Paradela, Cruz Azul’s two most progressive passers.
Messi’s positioning was, as ever, difficult to pin down. Nominally starting on the right of the front three, he drifted infield constantly to link with De Paul and Galarza, creating overloads that dragged Cruz Azul’s back five out of shape — a pattern that directly led to the space Suárez exploited for his cross ahead of the opening goal.
Cruz Azul’s 5-3-2 Defensive Setup
Joel Huiqui’s decision to go with a back five was a clear tactical concession to Inter Miami’s attacking talent, prioritizing numerical security against Messi, Suárez, and Berterame over committing men forward. With Rotondi and Márquez acting as wing-backs, Cruz Azul looked to use width in transition, but the extra defensive body meant Nicolás Ibáñez was frequently isolated up front, receiving limited service throughout the first half in particular.
The approach nearly worked defensively for long stretches — Cruz Azul restricted Inter Miami’s clearest chances to almost exclusively a single well-worked sequence per half — but the trade-off was clear in the final analysis: with more men behind the ball, Cruz Azul struggled to build the kind of sustained attacking pressure needed to test a back line missing Facundo Mura for the final quarter of the match.
A Closer Look at the Goals
Goal One: Messi’s 100th, Minute 24
The move began with Inter Miami working the ball patiently through midfield before switching play to the right flank, where Luis Suárez had drifted into space vacated by Cruz Azul’s midfield press. Suárez’s first-time cross was inch-perfect, floated to the back post rather than the near post where Cruz Azul’s defenders were more numerous. Messi, timing his run from just outside the six-yard box, arrived a half-step ahead of Willer Ditta and directed a firm downward header past Kevin Mier’s near post. It was a finish built on positioning and timing rather than pure power — a hallmark of Messi’s evolving game in his late 30s, where physical attributes have given way to an even sharper reading of space.
Goal Two: Casemiro’s Set-Piece Strike, Minute 81
With Cruz Azul committing more numbers forward in search of an equalizer, Inter Miami were awarded a corner from the left after a deflected clearance. Messi, rather than looking for a shot himself, opted to whip the delivery in with pace toward the penalty spot. Casemiro, given a free run by a mistimed defensive assignment from Cruz Azul’s marking scheme, met the ball flush with his head and sent it beyond Mier’s reach. It was a set piece that showcased exactly why Inter Miami pursued Casemiro over the summer — his aerial presence has been a persistent weapon in the final third, not just a defensive asset in his own box.
Messi’s Broader Legacy at Inter Miami
Reaching 100 goals for a single MLS club is a milestone few players in the league’s history have come close to, and doing so in this relatively short span since his 2023 arrival underlines just how significant Messi’s impact on the franchise has been — both competitively and commercially. Since joining, Inter Miami have gone from an also-ran expansion side to a team that has collected a title in each of the last several seasons, culminating in this latest Campeones Cup triumph, Messi’s 49th career trophy across his time in Argentina, Spain, and the United States.
The symmetry of scoring goal number 100 against the very club he scored his first Inter Miami goal against — Cruz Azul, back in 2023 during a Leagues Cup group-stage fixture — added a layer of narrative significance to this final that will likely be referenced in retrospectives on his MLS career for years to come.
Cruz Azul’s Club Background and Season Context
Cruz Azul, formally Club Deportivo Social y Cultural Cruz Azul, is one of Mexican football’s most historically significant institutions, based in Mexico City and one of the most-supported clubs in Liga MX. Their run to this Campeones Cup final came via a Concacaf Champions Cup pathway and their Campeón de Campeones triumph over Toluca, underlining a squad capable of grinding out results in high-stakes single-match scenarios even without their most fluent attacking form on display.
Domestically, Cruz Azul’s 2026 Apertura campaign has been solid without being spectacular, sitting 4th in the standings at the time of this final, buoyed by strong recent derby form against rivals Club América. Captain Érik Lira has been a driving force in midfield throughout the campaign, and his leadership was evident even in defeat, organizing Cruz Azul’s press and pushing his teammates forward in the closing stages in search of an equalizer that never came.
The Full History of the Campeones Cup
Since its creation in 2018, the Campeones Cup has established itself as a genuine measuring stick between MLS and Liga MX, even if some fans and pundits continue to debate its status as a fully “official” trophy. The competition’s champions list includes:
- Tigres UANL — multiple titles
- Atlanta United
- Columbus Crew
- New York City FC
- América
- Toluca
- Inter Miami CF (2026)
With Inter Miami’s win, the head-to-head trophy count between the two leagues now sits level at 4-4, a genuinely significant shift after Liga MX clubs had won every edition since 2022. For MLS as a league, ending that drought carries symbolic weight beyond just Inter Miami’s own trophy cabinet, offering a data point in the ongoing conversation about the growing competitiveness of MLS relative to Liga MX.
Cruz Azul vs Inter Miami: Head-to-Head and Tournament Background
What Is the Campeones Cup?
The Campeones Cup is an annual single-match competition, first created in 2018, that pits the reigning MLS Cup champion against the winner of Liga MX’s Campeón de Campeones match, effectively crowning the best club team across North America’s two biggest leagues for that year. Inter Miami qualified for this year’s final by winning the 2025 MLS Cup, while Cruz Azul earned their spot by beating Toluca 3-1 in July’s Campeón de Campeones match.
The Historical Trophy Count
Heading into this year’s final, Liga MX clubs held a 4-3 edge in the competition’s history, with the trophy list including past champions such as Tigres UANL, Atlanta United, Columbus Crew, New York City FC, and Toluca among others. Mexico had led the head-to-head count with four championships, the United States sat second with three, and no Canadian club had yet won the competition. Inter Miami’s victory here evened that historic series at 4-4.
Recent Form Heading Into the Final
Before the final, Inter Miami had struggled somewhat for results, failing to win five of their previous six official matches — a stretch that made the pressure on this final even greater for a club accustomed to collecting silverware in the Messi era. Cruz Azul, by contrast, arrived in considerably stronger domestic form, having just defeated fierce rivals Club América 4-3 at the Estadio Azteca days earlier, while sitting 4th in the 2026 Apertura table. Inter Miami, for context, sat 2nd in the MLS Eastern Conference with 45 points at the time of the final, having drawn 2-2 with Nashville SC in their prior league match.
Player Ratings: Standout Performers
Lionel Messi — 9/10: A captain’s performance in every sense. His 100th-goal header opened the scoring, and his corner delivery directly created Casemiro’s second goal, taking his assist tally to 15 across all competitions in the 2026 season.
Casemiro — 8/10: Beyond his crucial headed goal, Casemiro anchored Inter Miami’s defensive shape from an unfamiliar center-back role, continuing a hot streak that has now brought him four goals in his last five starts since arriving at the club over the summer.
Dayne St. Clair — 8/10: The goalkeeper’s late save to deny a dangerous Cruz Azul stoppage-time free kick was decisive in preserving Inter Miami’s first clean sheet in 12 matches.
Agustín Palavecino (Cruz Azul) — 7/10: Cruz Azul’s most creative outlet on the night, his second-half solo run and shot forced one of Inter Miami’s best defensive moments of the match, even in a losing effort.
How to Watch and Where the Match Was Streamed
For fans who searched “how to watch Cruz Azul vs Inter Miami,” the final was broadcast on Apple TV in the United States, with coverage beginning at 7:00 PM ET ahead of the 8:00 PM ET kickoff. The match was also available through select sportsbook live-streaming services for account holders in eligible markets.
Key Numbers From the Final
| Stat | Inter Miami | Cruz Azul |
|---|---|---|
| Final Score | 2 | 0 |
| Possession | 48% | 52% |
| Clean Sheet | Yes (1st in 12 matches) | No |
| Goals from Set Pieces | 1 (Casemiro, corner) | 0 |
| Trophy Count for Club | 5th overall, 1st Campeones Cup | — |
These numbers tell an important story about how the final was actually played: Cruz Azul had more of the ball and, per most reports, generated more total shot attempts, but Inter Miami’s efficiency in front of goal — converting two clear chances from two clinical finishes — was the difference-maker. It’s a reminder that in single-match, winner-take-all finals like the Campeones Cup, clinical finishing and game management in the closing stages often matter more than territorial dominance.
What’s Next for Both Clubs
Inter Miami’s Road Ahead
With the Campeones Cup secured, Inter Miami’s focus shifts back to their MLS playoff push, sitting 2nd in the Eastern Conference as the regular season enters its final stretch. Kily González will look to build on his winning managerial debut heading into a period that will define whether this Inter Miami side can add an MLS Cup to this new piece of silverware.
Cruz Azul’s Road Ahead
For Cruz Azul, the defeat means a shift in focus back to Liga MX’s 2026 Apertura tournament, where they currently sit 4th in the standings, still very much in contention as the season progresses. Manager Joel Huiqui will need to address the finishing issues that saw his side generate the greater share of possession and shots without being able to convert that pressure into goals.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the Cruz Azul vs Inter Miami final score?
Inter Miami won 2-0, with goals from Lionel Messi in the 24th minute and Casemiro in the 81st minute.
Was Messi in the starting lineup against Cruz Azul?
Yes, Lionel Messi started and captained Inter Miami in a 4-3-3 formation, scoring the opening goal.
What was Inter Miami’s confirmed starting XI?
Dayne St. Clair; Facundo Mura, Maximiliano Falcón, Casemiro, Fricio Caicedo; Rodrigo De Paul, Yannick Bright, Matías Galarza; Germán Berterame, Lionel Messi, Luis Suárez.
What was Cruz Azul’s confirmed starting XI?
Kevin Mier; Jeremy Márquez, Willer Ditta, Amaury García, Jesús Orozco, Carlos Rotondi; José Paradela, Érik Lira, Agustín Palavecino, Carlos Rodríguez; Nicolás Ibáñez.
Why was Messi’s goal historic?
It was his 100th goal for Inter Miami, and fittingly came against the same opponent, Cruz Azul, that he scored his very first Inter Miami goal against back in 2023.
Who won the Campeones Cup title in 2026?
Inter Miami, defeating Cruz Azul 2-0 for the club’s first-ever Campeones Cup title and fifth trophy overall.
Was this Kily González’s first match as Inter Miami manager?
Yes, and he won a trophy in his managerial debut with the club.
What is the all-time Campeones Cup record between MLS and Liga MX?
The competition is now tied 4-4 after Inter Miami’s win, ending Liga MX’s recent stretch of dominance in the tournament.
Where was the match played?
At Nu Stadium in Miami, Florida — the first trophy won at the venue since it opened in April 2026.
Did Cruz Azul have any key absences?
Yes, Cruz Azul were missing Mateo Levy and Amaury Morales through injury.
How many goals has Messi scored for Inter Miami in total?
The header against Cruz Azul was his 100th goal for the club since joining in 2023.
What formation did Cruz Azul play in the final?
A 5-3-2 shape that shifted at times to a 5-4-1 out of possession, prioritizing defensive numbers against Inter Miami’s front three.
Who was named Player of the Match?
Lionel Messi, for his goal and match-winning assist on Casemiro’s second-half strike.
What is Cruz Azul’s full name and background?
Club Deportivo Social y Cultural Cruz Azul, one of the most historically significant and widely supported clubs in Mexican football, based in Mexico City.
How did Inter Miami perform in MLS heading into this final?
They sat 2nd in the Eastern Conference with 45 points, though they had struggled for results recently, failing to win five of their previous six official matches before the final.
Did Casemiro score in his Inter Miami debut season?
Yes, his header against Cruz Azul was his fourth goal in his last five starts since arriving at the club over the summer.
Was this an official FIFA-recognized trophy?
The Campeones Cup’s status as a fully “official” trophy has been debated by some pundits, but neither club treated the result as anything less than a genuine championship, and it counts toward each club’s all-time honors list.
Sources and Further Reading
The information in this article is compiled and paraphrased from live match coverage and official club reporting. For further reading and to verify match details, see the following sources:
- Inter Miami CF Official Match Recap — Inter Miami CF
- Inter Miami CF Official Starting XI Announcement — Inter Miami CF
- CBS Sports: Messi’s 100th Goal Seals Campeones Cup Win — CBS Sports
- Goal.com: Messi Hits Historic 100-Goal Milestone — Goal.com
- World Soccer Talk: Messi Leads Inter Miami to Campeones Cup Title — World Soccer Talk
- VAVEL USA: Highlights and Goals Recap — VAVEL USA
- Athlon Sports: Lineups and Confirmed Team News — Athlon Sports
- Bolavip US: How to Watch and Broadcast Info — Bolavip US
- ESPN Match Center: Inter Miami vs Cruz Azul — ESPN
- Sofascore: Live Score, H2H and Lineups — Sofascore
- FotMob: Live Score, Predicted Lineups and H2H Stats — FotMob
