In the 2026 CONCACAF Champions Cup final, Inter Miami defeated Cruz Azul 2-0 to win the championship. After the match, Casemiro gave an interview to Spanish-language MLS channel, discussing the championship victory, changes since new coach Kily González took over, what it's like playing alongside Messi, the Golden Ball award, and other topics.

We spoke with Casemiro, who scored the team's second goal and was a key contributor to this big victory. It seems to have become a routine: Messi assists, Casemiro scores with a header.

Haha, honestly, he always manages to place the ball perfectly, and every time his pass is spot on. I think ultimately the goal is a team effort, because my teammates also help protect me. They're always helping me get into the best position, then he delivers the ball there.

I think when we score a goal, it belongs to everyone. So I believe everyone should get credit.

One thing that impressed me today is that you didn't concede, which hadn't happened in the previous 11 matches. If you had to say what has improved since Kily González took over the team just 24 hours ago, do you think the team has really changed? Or did the defense simply do today what they failed to do in previous matches?

Well, we all know that in football, when you're talking about 24 hours—I'm not even talking about a month, just 24 hours—it's too early to say these things have changed. Of course, when a new coach comes in, the entire atmosphere of the team shifts, and everyone wants to fight for their position. So I think whenever there's a change in coach, it always brings some changes, right? Whether it's the team atmosphere or everyone's condition, things will change.

But I think this is the result of everyone's collective effort. Of course, a new coach always brings something, because when a new coach arrives, everyone wants to fight for playing time. So I think this is the result of multiple factors working together, including the arrival of the new coach and the players themselves.

Less than two months after joining Inter Miami, you've won your first championship. From a personal perspective, how do you feel about this title?

Honestly, I'm very happy. I felt from day one I arrived here, everyone has been telling me that Inter Miami always aims to win championships. So of course, I'm very pleased to win this title. Going forward, we want to keep working hard, keep winning, and keep enjoying all of this. This is Inter Miami; we always have to compete for the top of the league standings.

Finally, did Messi "follow your example" today and score a beautiful header as well? Also, tell us what it's like being his teammate. Every time he scores, we see you celebrating with him and embracing him. His statistics are remarkable, and today he scored his 100th goal for Inter Miami.

All we can do is enjoy it. We have to enjoy it because we don't know how long we'll have these moments. We don't know how long we'll have all of this, so we must keep enjoying it. Because what he's done for football in the past is truly extraordinary, and what he continues to do now is also remarkable.

So all we can do is enjoy it. For us, the only thing to say is thank you, and then continue enjoying all of this, because he's still the best. He's proven it, and I'll never get tired of saying it. He proved it at the World Cup, and now he continues to prove it in the MLS. So I think we should enjoy all of this. Of course, with him around, everything is always so much easier.

Can Messi win the Golden Ball this year?

We all know that with him, anything is always possible; he's already proven it at the World Cup. However, that's not for me to decide. Of course, when you play with such a player, you always want your teammate to win awards, and of course I hope he does.

But in the end, it depends on the voters. So the only thing I can do is wish him the best, and I also hope everyone can see what he did at the World Cup, which I think is very important. However, I think for those of us with him now, we're truly enjoying all of this.

Diterjemahkan oleh AI.

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