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In a turbulent 2026, Lionel Messi finds himself on the brink of a trophy-less campaign, an uncommon occurrence in his storied career. However, he has an opportunity to turn things around this week, as Inter Miami enter the most critical five-day stretch of their season to date.
On Wednesday, the Herons square off against Liga MX giant Cruz Azul in the single-match, winner-takes-all Campeones Cup at Nu Stadium. The trophy, held annually since 2018 and always staged at an MLS venue, brings together the defending MLS Cup and Liga MX champions.
The title carries no recognition from FIFA or Concacaf, meaning it would not be added to Messi's world record tally of 47 trophies, the most recent being the 2025 MLS Cup. Even so, it could offer the Argentine icon an opportunity to hoist some hardware after coming up short in both the 2026 Concacaf Champions Cup and the 2026 Leagues Cup, while also trailing nine points in the Supporters' Shield standings. Beyond the Campeones Cup, only a long-shot run at the Shield and the MLS Cup remain within reach.
Should Inter Miami finish the season without any silverware, it would represent just the third campaign since Messi turned professional in 2004 in which he failed to win a team title. The other two instances were 2013–14 and 2019–20, when Barcelona came up empty across all competitions.
Securing a result on Wednesday will be no simple task, however. Cruz Azul have established themselves as one of the premier clubs in the Western Hemisphere in recent seasons, capturing the 2026 Liga MX Clausura and defeating Toluca in the Campeón de Campeones final, following their continental triumph in the 2025 Concacaf Champions Cup. Furthermore, the Liga MX outfit has won each of the last three editions of the competition, with New York City FC being the last MLS club to claim the Campeones Cup back in 2022.
Messi's Miami Face Massive MLS Test
While silverware will be front of mind on Wednesday, Saturday's home clash against Supporters' Shield leaders Nashville SC may prove even more consequential if the Herons hope to re-enter the regular-season title conversation.
Last month, Miami suffered a 4–1 defeat to Nashville at GEODIS Park, and have since fallen as many as 10 points adrift of the Tennessee club. Heading into Matchday 26, they sit nine points off the pace and two points behind Vancouver Whitecaps for third place. A defeat could leave them 12 points behind Nashville with nine fixtures remaining, all but extinguishing any hope of a late-season surge.
Should Miami miss out on the Supporters' Shield, their path to retaining the MLS Cup becomes considerably harder, likely requiring multiple away matches in the postseason and diminishing their chances of hosting the final, which is awarded to the higher-ranked side in the Supporters' Shield standings.