When will Messi return? Inter Miami’s dependence on Argentine exposed by Orlando City

Luis Muriel struck twice, scoring a goal in each half, while Martín Ojeda delivered a goal and an assist to power Orlando City SC to a commanding 4-1 win over Inter Miami CF on Sunday night.

Inter Miami were without star forward Lionel Messi, sidelined by a leg injury sustained in last Saturday’s Leagues Cup match against Necaxa.

Orlando wasted no time taking the lead, with Muriel finding the net just two minutes in. Miami responded quickly as Yannick Bright scored unassisted in the fifth minute — his first career goal in his 40th MLS appearance.

Ojeda, who assisted Muriel’s opener, extended his club-record streak to 14 consecutive matches with a goal contribution. Muriel restored Orlando’s advantage in the 50th minute with his eighth goal of the season. Eight minutes later, Ojeda scored his 14th goal of the year, taking his league-leading total to 27 goal contributions. Marco Pašalić sealed the victory in the 88th minute with his 10th goal of the season.

Goalkeeper Pedro Gallese made four saves for Orlando, including a spectacular stop to deny a long-range Luis Suárez strike. Inter Miami’s Óscar Ustari tallied eight saves but couldn’t stop the onslaught.

Miami coach Javier Mascherano was candid in his post-match assessment:

“Today there are no excuses. Football is about tactics, organization, and talent, but also the hunger to win. We clearly didn’t have that. Orlando outplayed us from start to finish.”

With the win, Orlando climbed to fourth in the Eastern Conference, and head coach Oscar Pareja is now just one victory away from reaching 100 across all competitions. Inter Miami remain sixth but hold multiple games in hand over the teams ahead of them.

Next up, Inter Miami host LA Galaxy on Saturday, while Orlando City welcome Sporting Kansas City.

Messi injury — official update

Inter Miami’s communications department confirmed Messi suffered a minor muscle injury in his right leg during the Leagues Cup match and that his return will depend on his clinical progress and response to treatment. The club has not given a firm timetable for his return; coach Javier Mascherano indicated he would not risk Messi for the Orlando fixture.

What this loss reveals about Inter Miami’s dependence on Messi

1) Results show how central Messi is to Miami’s attacking identity

When Messi is available, Inter Miami’s game is structured around his movement, passing and finishing; his presence forces opponents to allocate extra defensive attention and opens space for others. With Messi absent, the team’s attacking patterns flattened: Miami lacked a clear creative hub capable of unlocking Orlando’s structure. The result suggests Miami’s collective attacking blueprint is still too reliant on Messi to create and finish decisive actions. (Match evidence: Miami struggled to create high-quality chances without him; Orlando’s press and transitions exploited that).

2) Tactical predictability and personnel gaps become exposed

Messi’s absence exposed a shortage of high-impact, reliable creators who can replace his chance-creating volume. Even with capable players on the roster, substituting Messi’s ability to both score and create — often within the same sequence — is a tall order. Javier Mascherano’s post-match comments about intensity and hunger hint at both tactical and psychological shortfalls: without Messi’s influence, Miami’s approach looked reactive rather than proactive.

3) Short-term implications: rotate, reinforce and adapt

In the short term the club must manage fixtures and rotate to keep Messi fresh once fit. They’ll need interim tactical plans that do not depend on a single superstar — for example, clearer out-of-possession triggers, pressing schemes that generate turnovers higher up, or a double-pivot that moves ball progression away from Messi-centric play. Opponents will increasingly test Miami in matches Messi misses; Miami must show it can grind results out without him. (Orlando’s win is a case study.)

4) Long-term implications: squad construction and medical management

This result intensifies the case for deeper squad investment. Relying on a 38-year-old superstar for match-deciding output leaves the club vulnerable to injuries and fixture congestion. Inter Miami’s recruitment strategy may need to prioritize reliable secondary creators and forward options who can share goal-creating responsibilities. Additionally, the club’s medical and minutes-management approach will be under scrutiny: balancing Messi’s availability for marquee fixtures with his long-term fitness should be a priority. The club’s official messaging that the injury is “minor” is positive, but the lack of a return date underlines the need for careful management.

5) Off-field implications: brand vs. sporting resilience

Messi is a global commercial magnet for the franchise — his absence dents short-term attendances and media buzz, but sporting reputation rests on results. Repeated high-profile losses without Messi could alter perceptions of the squad’s competitiveness beyond marketing appeal. Miami must balance superstar-led branding with sustainable team performance to remain credible title contenders when Messi is unavailable.

Coach reaction

Miami coach Javier Mascherano was candid after the loss, saying the team lacked the intensity and hunger needed and that Orlando outplayed them across large passages of the match. He also confirmed Messi would not be available for the fixture as a precaution.

Context & consequences

• Messi’s absence has a measurable impact: he has been directly involved in a large share of Inter Miami’s goals this season (the club reported he has been a major contributor; Messi’s scoring totals have been among the team leaders). The official injury note calls it a “minor muscle injury” with return depending on clinical progress. That uncertainty forces Miami to plan without him for the near term.

• Orlando move to fourth in the Eastern Conference; Miami sit in the middle of the pack but have games in hand they could use to recover ground.

Orlando’s emphatic win underlined two things: Luis Muriel and Martín Ojeda are in electric form, and Inter Miami’s current system struggles when Lionel Messi is unavailable. The official injury update is cautiously optimistic (a minor muscle injury), but until Messi’s clinical progress is clear, Inter Miami must show it can function and win without its talisman — or else risk meaningful drops in results and momentum.