MIAMI.- After the death of his father and after retiring from the Argentine national team, the soccer star Lionel Messi will look for Wednesday with the Inter Miami the 49th title of his career: the Champions Cup 2026 against him Blue Cross.
Since 2018, the Champions Cup annually in a match against the champion of the MLS with the winner of the tournament Champion of Champions of the MX League.
This Wednesday, the “Herons” will receive the “Cement Machine” at the Nu Stadiumin Miami, from 8:00 p.m. local.
“Officially, a cup is being played,” boasted the MLS on the eve of the match. For Liga MX it is also an official trophy, although it is not endorsed by the Concacaf.
In seven editions played, the balance is favorable for Liga MX with four titles – the most recent three consecutively – compared to three for the MLS.
Messi will seek his fourth title with Inter Miami after experiencing a very painful August on a personal level.
Messi as a goalscorer
On Saturday, August 8, Leo suffered the death of Jorge, his father, at the age of 68, as a result of cancer for which he was hospitalized for several months, even during the World Cup 2026.
“Dad, I still can’t believe you’re gone,” Messi wrote in an emotional letter. “I don’t know what I’m going to do without you. I don’t know how I’m going to continue.”
After his father’s funeral, he played eight games for Inter Miami in which he scored seven goals – including a poker in a 7-2 over Montreal– and gave five assists.
On August 31, Messi faced another difficult moment, his farewell to the Argentine national team, with a new moving writing: “It was a decision that hurt and hurts in the soul.”
The “Pulga” leads the MLS scoring table with 19 goals and also the assists table with 13.
However, Inter Miami entered a streak of four games without winning in August, which was added to the elimination of the Leagues Cup 2026.
Likewise, it remains second in the Eastern Conference of the MLS with 45 points, nine behind the leader Nashville SCwith whom they tied 2-2 at home last Saturday.
Paradela leads to the “Machine”
On the Cruz Azul bench, the Mexican coach Joel Huiqui It also got off to a fortunate start in May. In his first 10 games he won two titles: the Closing 2026 and the Champion of Championswhich was worth the pass to the Champions Cup.
“This match is key to winning another cup, we have analyzed the rival,” said Huiqui.
The talented Argentine stands out in the celestial ranks José Paradela, a left-footed striker who scored two goals in the 3-1 victory over the Toluca in the Champion of Champions.
In the second half of the year, the 27-year-old Argentine has contributed four goals and three assists.
At the weekend, Cruz Azul beat 4-3 America in the Young Classic of Mexican soccer. Paradela scored one goal and served two.
Cruz Azul is fourth in the Mexican opening with 15 points, two less than the leader Guadalajara.
