Lionel Messi pursues another title with Inter Miami: Campeones Cup clash against Cruz Azul and Kily González's head coaching debut

He is 39 years old. He played (and shone) in his sixth World Cup with the Argentina national team, coming agonizingly close to the title. He has logged 38 matches this year, tallying 32 goals and 17 assists. And Lionel Messi wants more. This Wednesday at 8:00 p.m. (Eastern Time), he will have the chance to widen his lead as the most decorated footballer in history when he plays for another trophy with Inter Miami. It could be his 47th title. The match will take place at NU Stadium in Miami against Cruz Azul in the eighth edition of the Campeones Cup, which pits the champions of MLS and Liga MX against each other.

Conexión argentina y el GOLAZO del 🔟🌟 pic.twitter.com/FPyxzplICV

— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) September 13, 2026

The matchup carries an added storyline: as confirmed Monday, Cristian "Kily" González will make his head coaching debut, replacing Ángel Guillermo Hoyos. The Rosario native was unexpectedly announced on August 26, but had to resolve administrative matters before taking his place on the bench for The Herons (Las Garzas), who are coming off a dramatic home draw last Saturday against Eastern Conference leaders Nashville SC, featuring a standout performance and a stunning goal from Messi.

🇦🇷 El Kily has arrived!

Inter Miami’s new manager, Cristian ‘Kily’ Gonzalez, will take part in Tuesday’s pregame press conference ahead of the Campeones Cup vs Cruz Azul on Wednesday. Luis Suarez, too.

The end of the Guillermo Hoyos era is finally upon us. #InterMiamiCF #Messi pic.twitter.com/f5UNIujhI4

— Franco Panizo (@FrancoPanizo) September 14, 2026

"Kily," alongside Uruguayan striker Luis Suárez, will hold a pre-match press conference on Tuesday. He will be the fourth manager to coach Messi since his arrival at the club, maintaining a curious trend: all have been fellow Argentines, following Gerardo Martino, Javier Mascherano, and Hoyos.

For Messi, this represents an opportunity to extend his lead over second-place Dani Alves, who holds 43 titles. The South Florida club secured its place in the single-leg match after claiming its first-ever MLS Cup title on December 6, defeating the Vancouver Whitecaps at home.

Cruz Azul earned its berth after defeating Toluca on July 25 in Liga MX's Campeón de Campeones, which features the Apertura 2025 champion against the Clausura 2026 champion. Its current roster features seven Argentines: Gonzalo Piovi, Agustín Palavecino, Luka Romero, José Paradela, Carlos Rotondi, Nicolás Ibáñez, and Mateo Levy.

Across seven previous editions of the Campeones Cup, Liga MX teams have claimed four victories compared to three for MLS sides. Toluca was the last winner, defeating LA Galaxy 3-2 in 2025.

All of Lionel Messi's titles

Twenty years have passed since the first title of his career: La Liga with Barcelona, the Catalan club where he won the majority of his trophy collection. Having played fewer than ten first-team matches, he celebrated the first of his 46 titles on May 14, 2005—just 210 days after making his Barcelona debut on October 16, 2004.

The first major celebration took place a day later at Camp Nou, on May 15, 2005.

That European spring in May 2005, against Levante at the Ciudad de Valencia stadium, Messi traveled with the team but did not even make the bench. Nevertheless, when the match ended after 11:30 p.m., he stepped onto the pitch to celebrate with his teammates. Of Messi's 46 titles, 34 were won with Barcelona, three with Paris Saint-Germain, five with the senior Argentina national team, three with Inter Miami, one with the U-20 national team, and one with the U-23 squad (at the 2008 Beijing Olympics).

Messi and the long-awaited celebration: Copa América champion with Argentina, 5,806 days after his debut. Photo: EFE/ANTONIO LACERDA

Some outlets and statistical databases attribute 47 titles to him by including the 2005 Spanish Super Cup, but it has been clarified on several occasions that the Argentine was not part of that squad: manager Frank Rijkaard left him off the official roster for the competition, he did not participate in celebrations, and he did not receive a medal. By comparison, it would be like counting the 1978 World Cup for Diego Maradona because he was part of coach César Luis Menotti's preliminary 25-player squad before the final 22-player cut.