Key Highlights
- Lionel Messi celebrated Inter Miami’s 2-0 Campeones Cup victory over Cruz Azul with his three sons in a candid, sweaty family moment on the field.
- Youngest son Ciro sparked laughter by touching Messi’s sweat-soaked jersey and smelling his hand, while Thiago initially hesitated before embracing his father.
- Messi scored his 100th goal for Inter Miami to open the scoring before Casemiro sealed the win on September 16, 2024.
Messi’s Historic Night Ends in Unscripted Family Comedy
Lionel Messi added another milestone to his storied career on September 16, netting his 100th goal for Inter Miami as the Herons dispatched Cruz Azul 2-0 to lift the 2026 Campeones Cup at Chase Stadium. Yet the image that lingered longest from the Florida night had nothing to do with statistics or silverware. Still dripping from the exertion of a full 90 minutes, the Argentine captain walked toward the touchline where his three boys—Thiago, 11, Mateo, 8, and Ciro, 6—waited, turning a routine post-match embrace into a spontaneous slice of family life broadcast to millions.
The Sweat Check That Stole the Show
Ciro, the youngest of the Messi clan, provided the evening’s most genuine humor. After tentatively patting his father’s soaked shoulder, the six-year-old lifted his hand to his nose, inhaling deeply with the curiosity only a child could muster. Messi, ever expressive, caught the gesture instantly. Father and son locked eyes and erupted in shared laughter, a moment of unfiltered connection that no choreographed celebration could replicate. Cameras caught Mateo watching the exchange with a grin, while Thiago, approaching adolescence, wore the look of a boy negotiating the boundary between public coolness and private affection.
From Reluctance to Embrace
Thiago’s hesitation was palpable. He pulled a exaggerated face, wiping his palms on his shorts as if preparing for an unpleasant chore, before finally surrendering to the pull of family gravity and wrapping his arms around his father’s neck. The progression—from comedic recoil to wholehearted hug—encapsulated the unique dynamic of growing up Messi: equal parts global spectacle and ordinary bedtime routine. By the time the confetti settled, all three boys were clinging to their father, the weight of a historic 100th club goal rendered secondary to the gravity of dad coming home.
Why This Matters
The Campeones Cup triumph marks Inter Miami’s second piece of silverware in 2024, following the Leagues Cup title, and underscores the immediate impact of a roster built around Messi, Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba, and now Casemiro. The Brazilian midfielder’s late strike—his first for the club—signaled depth beyond the headline names. Yet the post-match scenes also humanize a franchise often viewed through a purely commercial lens. In a league striving for mainstream cultural relevance, unscripted authenticity—especially involving the world’s most recognizable athlete—generates organic reach that marketing budgets cannot buy. With the MLS Cup playoffs looming, the psychological boost of a trophy and a healthy, happy captain could prove decisive.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What competition did Inter Miami win on September 16?
- Inter Miami defeated Cruz Azul 2-0 to win the 2026 Campeones Cup, a single-match showdown between the reigning MLS Cup and Liga MX champions.
- How many goals has Lionel Messi scored for Inter Miami?
- The opening goal against Cruz Azul was Messi’s 100th in all competitions for the club since his July 2023 arrival.
- Who scored Inter Miami’s second goal?
- Casemiro, the Brazilian midfielder signed from Manchester United in August 2024, netted the insurance goal in the second half.
