Lionel Messi can extend record trophy haul and end MLS drought in newly-created fixture

Lionel Messi has the chance to win his 48th career trophy on Wednesday night as Inter Miami eye a historic victory.

Messi currently holds the record for the most trophies ever won by a player, and he's now on the brink of extending it.

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The footballing legend will line up for Inter Miami in the Campeones Cup, which was only officially launched in 2018.

Mexican champions Cruz Azul will be their opponents, as the MLS winners and LIGA MX winners clash in the fixture.

The one-off match was created alongside the Leagues Cup - which is a tournament that includes clubs from the USA, Canada and Mexico - to help 'strengthen the sport in the region'.

Inter Miami have never played in the game before, meaning this is a chance for them to lift the trophy for the first time.

Their success in the MLS last season put them forward for the Campeones Cup and they will feel they need to beat Cruz Azul, not just for themselves or Messi, but for the league as a whole.

The American sides have lost to their Mexican opponents in every edition of the fixture since 2022.

LA Galaxy lost to Toluca last year, with Columbus Crew losing to Club America in 2024 and LAFC being beaten by Tigres in 2023.

Lionel Messi's record trophy haul

Messi is hoping to get his hands on his fourth trophy as an Inter Miami player at the $1billion Nu Stadium.

He has won 47 pieces of silverware across his iconic career, including four Champions Leagues and 10 La Liga titles.

The 39-year-old picked up those trophies with Barcelona, where he won 34 in total, while he also won Ligue 1 twice during his short stint with French giants Paris Saint-Germain.

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On the international stage, Messi completed football by winning the World Cup with Argentina in 2022.

Either side of that incredible success, he led his country to Copa America glory, taking his tally to three international titles.

The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner, who has been nominated for the award again this year, is three clear of any other player when it comes to trophies won throughout his career.

His tally of 47 is three more than former Barcelona teammate Dani Alves, who won 44 and four more than PSG's Marquinhos, who has won 43 in his career so far.

And he sits a huge 12 titles clear of rival Cristiano Ronaldo, with the Portuguese icon lifting 35 trophies in total.

Messi can extend that gap with an Inter Miami victory against Cruz Azul, with the Campeones Cup clash taking place at 8pm local time on Wednesday night, which is 1am on Thursday in the UK.

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Who has won the Campeones Cup before?

As mentioned, MLS clubs haven't had the best luck in the Campeones Cup in recent years, with the Mexican sides dominating.

Toluca are the most recent winners, as they beat LA Galaxy 3-2 last year, with Club America succeeding in 2024.

They beat Columbus Crew on penalties - the same method that Tigres won the trophy over LAFC the year prior.

The last MLS team to win the Campeones Cup was New York City in 2022 amid early dominance from the Americans.

In the first four editions of the match, it was Atlanta United, Columbus Crew and New York City that came out on top.

So, can Inter Miami and new manager Kily Gonzalez join that exclusive group and bring the trophy back to the States?

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What is Messi's record against Mexican teams?

Well, Messi's record against Mexican clubs certainly gives Inter Miami a good chance of getting their hands on the silverware.

He has played 10 times against Liga MX teams throughout his career in the USA and with Barcelona, losing just once.

The now-retired Argentina international has won five and drawn four in such outings across competitive games and friendlies.

For Miami, Messi has scored three goals in five clashes against teams from Mexico, including one against Cruz Azul.

Altogether, he's netted six times in his 10 such games.