Inter Miami led the MLS with 81 regular-season goals last season.
Surprisingly, the defending champions didn’t find the back of the net a single time in their 2026 opener.
Inter Miami look to get the attack moving on Sunday night when they travel north to face Orlando City.
Miami lost 3-0 at Los Angeles FC last weekend when soccer icon Lionel Messi managed four shots and all of them were off target.
It certainly wasn’t the type of season debut Miami coach Javier Mascherano was expecting.
“We clearly know we have a lot to improve,” Mascherano said. “We need to keep building on the positive things we’ve done, correct the mistakes we made, and keep moving forward.”
Miami defeated the Vancouver Whitecaps in the MLS Cup and is reportedly set to visit the White House next Thursday, two days before a road match against D.C. United.
Messi did score a goal in a friendly this past Thursday when Inter Miami closed out their Champions Tour with a 2-1 victory over Independiente del Valle of Ecuador at Bayamon, Puerto Rico.
Keeping two-time MLS MVP Messi in check has been a challenge for Orlando City. Messi has six goals in four matches across all competitions against the Lions.
Orlando City also got off to a rough start last weekend as they fell 2-1 to the visiting New York Red Bulls.
The Lions finally got on the board in the sixth minute of second-half stoppage time when Tiago tapped in a pass from Zakaria Taifi.
New goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau was bombarded all game long and matched a franchise record with 11 saves.
Crepeau said the Lions might be the fresher side Sunday due to Miami’s trip to Puerto Rico.
“The mileage they have is a bit more challenging than us this week, since we stayed here, that is for sure,” Crepeau said. “But every team has their own decision on how to manage their preseason, manage their roster. Both teams, when they step on the field, will be ready to play.”
Orlando City won both regular-season meetings against Miami last season by a combined 7-1. Messi played in just one of those games.
Messi scored two goals when the squads met in the Leagues Cup semifinals with the Herons prevailing 3-1.
Orlando coach Oscar Pareja said his side can’t be consumed by the 38-year-old Messi.
“They have kept that identity that is normal and functional, just trying to play around Leo and what he contributes to that team,” Pareja said. “We have respect for them like any other, but now we’re focusing much more on us.”
–Field Level Media
