FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Lionel Messi held his arms up in the air in disbelief. The rest of his Inter Miami teammates joined him in complaint, and waited to see what would come from their contest with a referee.
No one was watching Orlando City’s Luis Muriel, who scored a goal just before halftime that kept the Inter Miami players fuming as they walked onto the pitch for the second half.
Orlando City’s Marco Pašalić doubled the lead (53’), Dagur Thorhallsson scored before the final whistle (90’+4’), and Inter Miami lost 3-0 at Chase Stadium on MLS Sunday Night Soccer.
“There’s always something going on with the referees, some isolated plays. I think MLS needs to look a little more closely to the referees,” Messi said during a post-match interview with Apple TV.
It’s easily the most difficult stretch Inter Miami has experienced in the Messi era – even more for first-year coach Javier Mascherano, whose lineup changes are not sparking enough fire offensively to keep up.
Inter Miami has won just one match in its last seven games – conceding 20 goals, while scoring just 12. They have lost five matches during the stretch, including their elimination in the semifinals of the Concacaf Champions Cup tournament by MLS Western Conference leaders Vancouver late last month.
Messi and his squad are a club in disarray, about to be exposed on the world stage during the FIFA Club World Cup next month.
“It’s a difficult time, but we’re going to come through this together,” Messi said. “Now we’ll really see if we’re a team in difficult times because when everything is going well, it’s very easy. But when difficult times come, like now, that’s when we have to be more united than ever, be a real team and get through it.”
“We as a coaching staff are failing, and we have to try to turn things around,” Mascherano added.
Inter Miami’s frustration boiled over as Messi, Luis Suarez and others contested with referees before their first goal allowed.
Messi contested an Orlando player made a pass backward to his goalkeeper, who then picked the ball up with his hands – leading to the transition goal. However, there was another Orlando player in front of the goalkeeper who did not touch the ball – making it permissible for the goalkeeper to pick it up.
“There was a strange play where one of their players passed the ball to goalkeepers and the referee told me that he didn’t know the rule, that he didn’t think it was a foul or that he didn’t understand it,” Messi said. “And well, from there came a long ball, and the goal.”
Messi and Luis Suarez each received yellow cards within minutes of each other midway through the second half as tensions remained raised. A season ago, they both scored twice in a 5-0 win over their in-state rivals as part of a record-setting season where Inter Miami won the MLS Supporters’ Shield.
After losing the Florida Derby during MLS Rivalry Week, Inter Miami fell to sixth place (21 points) in the MLS Eastern Conference, jumped by Orlando City (24 points) in the standings.
They dropped from fourth to fifth earlier this week behind Philadelphia Union (29 points), FC Cincinnati (29 points), Columbus Crew (27 points) and Nashville (24 points) after a 3-3 draw in San Jose on Wednesday night.
Inter Miami’s last win was a 4-1 victory against the New York Red Bulls on May 3.
Inter Miami has three MLS regular-season matches remaining, and Messi is expected to join Argentina for two World Cup qualifying matches – Argentina will visit Chile on June 5, and host Colombia on June 10 –before the Club World Cup.
They will play in the tournament opener on June 14 against Egyptian side Al Alhy at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, the first of three group-stage matches during the summer tournament between 32 of the best teams in the world.
They’re barely a Top 15 team in MLS, amid their difficult stretch. And time isn’t on their side for much-needed improvement.
“It has been a period of poor results, but we must continue working and think about what lies ahead,” Messi said. “We have four games left to finish the month on a high note ahead of the Club World Cup.” “If we all start pulling in different directions, it’s going to be impossible to get out of it. It’s clear that we have to get out of this together,” Mascherano added.
Marco Pašalić scores goal: Orlando City 2, Inter Miami 0
Inter Miami allowed a goal before halftime, and one to begin the second half. Marco Pašalić has scored in the 53rd minute to double Orlando City’s lead.
Luis Muriel scores goal: Orlando City 1, Inter Miami 0
Orlando City is on the board just before halftime as Luis Muriel scored a breakaway goal in the 43rd minute of the match.
Iván Angulo shot saved by Oscar Ustari: Inter Miami 0, Orlando City 0
Inter Miami goalkeeper Oscar Ustari saved this attempt by Orlando City’s Iván Angulo in the 24th minute. Ustari has been on the opposite end of 17 goals allowed in the last six games.
Messi misses shot with right boot: Inter Miami 0, Orlando City 0
Lionel Messi lined up this opportunity with his right foot instead of his legendary left, but was unable to score past Orlando City goalkeeper Pedro Gallese in the 22nd minute.
Messi contract talks: When will he re-sign with Inter Miami?
Lionel Messi is under contract this season, but Inter Miami wants to extend the World Cup champion.
Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano said of a possible extension for Messi: “Hopefully in a few weeks, we can have some news about Leo because I think it will be very, very good for the club, for the fans, and for MLS.”
Is Messi playing vs. Orlando City? Inter Miami lineup today
Yes, Messi was announced as a starter by Inter Miami before the match. Here are the starting lineups for both clubs:
How to watch Inter Miami vs. Orlando City match on TV, live stream?
The match is available on the Apple TV+ channel, and MLS Season Pass via Apple TV.
What time is Inter Miami vs. Orlando City match?
The match begins at 7 p.m. ET (8 p.m. in Argentina).
Is Luis Suarez playing tonight vs. Orlando City?
Suarez is also listed in the starting lineup, and returns after missing the last two Inter Miami matches due to personal reasons.
Inter Miami vs. Orlando City prediction
Inter Miami 2, Orlando City 1: Messi scores a goal and has an assist in a 2-1 victory for Inter Miami against Orlando City. — Safid Deen, Lionel Messi reporter.
Inter Miami vs. Orlando City betting odds
Inter Miami enters the match as the favorite (-130), while a draw (+290) has slightly lower odds than a win by Orlando City (+300), according to BETMGM.
Messi to join Argentina before Club World Cup
Messi has been called up by the defending World Cup champions for qualifying matches for the 2026 tournament. Argentina will visit Chile on June 5, and host Colombia on June 10.
Messi, Inter Miami upcoming schedule
May 24: Philadelphia Union vs. Inter Miami, 7:30 p.m. ET
May 28: Inter Miami vs. CF Montreal, 7:30 p.m. ET
May 31: Inter Miami vs. Columbus Crew, 7:30 p.m. ET
Messi, Inter Miami schedule for Club World Cup
June 14: Inter Miami vs. Al Alhy, 8 p.m. ET (Hard Rock Stadium in Miami)
June 19: Inter Miami vs FC Porto, 3 p.m. ET (Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta)
June 23: Inter Miami vs. Palmerias, 9 p.m. ET (Hard Rock Stadium in Miami)