Lionel Messi confronts MLS Commissioner Don Garber in tense postgame moment

The Campeones Cup final , where Inter Miami defeated Cruz Azul , ended with a heated moment after Lionel Messi crossed paths with Major League Soccer (MLS) Commissioner Don Garber, with whom he had a tense exchange.

Messi’s frustration with MLS commissioner

After winning his 48th career title in a match where he also reached 100 goals with the Florida club, the Argentine star was reportedly visibly upset with Don Garber, according to multiple reports.

"Messi visibly upset with MLS Commissioner Don Garber. Confronts him not once but twice after the Campeones Cup trophy celebration." ESPN’s Herculez Gomez wrote while sharing a video showing the Argentine approaching the commissioner on multiple occasions.

What happened in the Inter Miami vs. Cruz Azul match?

Lionel Messi scored the 100th goal of his Inter Miami career, and Casemiro added another as the Florida side defeated Cruz Azul 2-0 on Wednesday night to win the Campeones Cup.

Messi opened the scoring in the 24th minute with a header from a Luis Suárez cross, reaching his 100th goal in 115 appearances across all competitions with Inter Miami.

The historic goal came against the same team Messi scored his first goal for Inter Miami against. In July 2023 , the Argentine converted a stoppage-time free kick to give Miami a 2-1 victory over Cruz Azul in his debut with the club.

Casemiro scored the final goal in the 81st minute, heading in a corner kick delivered by Messi.

The Brazilian midfielder now has four goals in his last five matches, all of them headers. Before being held scoreless Saturday against Nashville, he had scored in three straight games against CF Montreal, Atlanta United and Chicago.

The victory gave Inter Miami another trophy just three years after Messi’s arrival. The Florida club has now won the Leagues Cup in 2023, the Supporters’ Shield in 2024, and the MLS Cup in 2025.