The same opponent, three years on
July 2023. First game, first goal, a free-kick against Cruz Azul.
Wednesday night, the 100th. Against Cruz Azul.
Lionel Messi scored his 100th goal for Inter Miami in their 2-0 win in the Campeones Cup. A header in the 24th minute from a Luis Suarez delivery. The pair are still finding each other almost by instinct, 12 years on from their first links at Barca.
He turned provider in the 81st, a corner picked out Casemiro, who headed in. 2-0, trophy secured.
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115 games for 100 goals
The numbers are absurd. 100 goals in 115 appearances for Miami. At 39, on American pitches that are hardly known for taking it easy on the body.
The Campeones Cup is the 49th trophy of his career, club and country combined. Five of them since he landed in Florida in 2023. Nobody else is anywhere near that haul.
“You have to enjoy it, because nobody knows how much longer it’ll last. What he has done, and keeps doing, for football is simply incredible,” said Casemiro after the match.
One last date on 6 October
There is one more deadline. Messi announced his international retirement at the end of August and is due to play a final game for Argentina on 6 October in Buenos Aires.
Before that comes the Ballon d’Or. Eight goals at the last World Cup, which ended in a lost final, put him back in the conversation. At 39.
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