It was as if Lionel Messi and Inter Miami flipped a switch.
Inter Miami had a brutal first 45 minutes in Orlando, falling behind 2-0 in the first half — this after losing 3-0 to Los Angeles FC last week. Then, Messi and the Herons came out of halftime and put on a soccer football clinic in the second half. Inter Miami rallied for an impressive 4-2 victory over Orlando City on Sunday, March 1. It marked the first time that Inter Miami had won at Orlando City’s Inter&Co Stadium.
Messi scored twice. First, a shot from outside the 18-yard box completed Inter Miami’s comeback, evening up the score at 2-2. Then late in the game, Messi scored on a free kick to put an exclamation point on Inter Miami’s victory.
Looking to give his team a spark in attack, Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano subbed on forward Mateo Silvetti after halftime. The move paid immediate dividends, with Silvetti scoring Inter Miami’s first goal of the 2026 MLS season four minutes into the second half. After Messi’s equalizer, Telasco Segovia gave Miami the lead in the 85th minute.
Orlando City, a playoff team the previous six seasons, has lost its first two games of 2026. Inter Miami, meanwhile, salvaged three points out of its first two games as the Herons play four road MLS games before opening their new stadium, Miami Freedom Park, on April 4.
USA TODAY Sports provided updates and highlights for the Orlando City vs. Inter Miami matchup:
Inter Miami vs. Orlando City highlights
Inter Miami 4, Orlando City 2: Lionel Messi connects on free kick
Following a foul by Orlando City’s Colin Guske — who was sent off after being shown a second yellow card — Inter Miami was set up for a free-kick opportunity outside the 18-yard box in the 90th minute.
Lionel Messi embraced that opportunity and buried the free-kick goal, doubling Inter Miami’s lead and virtually assuring that the Herons will escape Inter&Co Stadium with three points.
Inter Miami 3, Orlando City 2: Telasco Segovia scores go-ahead goal
Inter Miami has found its title-winning form. Telasco Segovia gave the Herons the lead in the 85th minute in what has been largely a second half dominated by Inter Miami. In addition to the goal, Segovia has two assists to fill his stat line for this match.
Inter Miami 2, Orlando City 2: Lionel Messi evens up the score
The soccer G.O.A.T. scored his first goal of the 2026 MLS season in the 57th minute, knotting up the score at 2-2.
It was a mess just outside the 18-yard box as Inter Miami controlled the ball and looked to get a clear shot on goal. It finally happened with the ball at the foot of Messi, who buried the equalizer.
It’s game on in Orlando as MLS gets a good one for its ‘Sunday Night Soccer’ showcase on Apple TV.
Orlando City 2, Inter Miami 1: Halftime substitute Mateo Silvetti makes immediate impact
It didn’t take long for Mateo Silvetti to make his presence felt on the Florida Derby. Silvetti hit a rocket of a shot from outside the 18-yard box past a diving Orlando City goalkeeper Maxime Crépeau in the 49th minute.
It makes the first goal for Silvetti in an MLS regular-season game. He did score twice in the playoffs during Inter Miami’s run to winning MLS Cup.
Halftime sub for Inter Miami: Mateo Silvetti comes on for Noah Allen
Looking to bolster the attack, Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano made a substitution coming out of halftime. It’s an aggressive move for Inter Miami, which will play with three defensive players after subbing off defender Noah Allen in favor of forward Mateo Silvetti.
Halftime: Orlando City 2, Inter Miami 0
Inter Miami have been outscored 5-0 in their first game and a half, a brutal start for the defending MLS champions.
Lionel Messi and Inter Miami have had their chances in the first half at Inter&Co Stadium, but just haven’t put the ball into the back of the net. A big reason for that is the sensational play of Orlando City goalkeeper Maxime Crépeau. Inter Miami took eight shots — three on target — in the first half but were denied each time.
Yellow cards started getting shown late in the first half, as Orlando City’s Colin Guske and Nolan Miller and Inter Miami’s Tadeo Allende were each carded.
Maxime Crépeau makes save on Lionel Messi attempt
Maxime Crépeau is trying to make a case to be Canada’s starting goalkeeper in the 2026 World Cup (he’s facing his competition — Dayne St. Clair — tonight in Orlando).
Saves like the one he made on a Lionel Messi attempt in the 28th minute can only help his chances of being between the pipes when Canada plays its World Cup opener on June 12.
Crépeau has 29 caps for Canada, but missed the 2022 World Cup after suffering a broken leg while playing for LAFC in its epic MLS Cup win in 2022.
Orlando City 2, Inter Miami 0: Dream start for the Lions
Martín Ojeda doubled Orlando City’s lead in a hurry, scoring in the 24th minute.
After getting dominated 3-0 last week in Los Angeles, Lionel Messi and Inter Miami are off to a rough start in their MLS title defense.
Orlando City 1, Inter Miami 0: Marco Pašalić scores the opener
Once again, reigning MLS champion Inter Miami will be forced to play from behind.
Marco Pašalić scored in the 18th minute a left-footed shot from the top of the 18-yard box on an assist from Iván Angulo, and Orlando City is up 1-nil in front of a boisterous crowd at Inter&Co Stadium.
What time is the Orlando City vs. Inter Miami match?
The match begins at 7 p.m. ET (9 p.m. in Argentina).
How to watch Orlando City vs. Inter Miami match?
The Orlando City vs. Inter Miami match will be available on Apple TV.
Inter Miami starting 11
Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano opted for two new starters from last week’s 3-0 season-opening defeat against Los Angeles FC at the historic LA Memorial Coliseum.
Forward Tadeo Allende and defender Facundo Mura get their first starts of the 2026 campaign.
Orlando City starting 11
Orlando City coach Oscar Pareja opted for four new starters from the club’s season-opening 2-1 defeat against the New York Red Bulls.
Forward Iván Angulo, midfielder Colin Guske, and defenders Nolan Miller and Tahir Reid-Brown — a 19-year-old homegrown player — get their first starts of the season.
MLS Matchday 2 schedule and results
Saturday, Feb. 28
- Chicago Fire 3, CF Montreal 0
- New York Red Bulls 1, New England Revolution 0
- Colorado Rapids 2, Portland Timbers 0
- Minnesota United 1, FC Cincinnati 0
- Real Salt Lake 2, Seattle Sounders 1
- San Jose Earthquakes 2, Atlanta United 0
- FC Dallas 0, Nashville SC 0
- Los Angeles FC 2, Houston Dynamo 0
- Sporting Kansas City 2, Columbus Crew 2
- Vancouver Whitecaps 3, Toronto FC 0
- LA Galaxy 3, Charlotte FC 0
Sunday, March 1
- Austin FC 1, DC United 0
- New York City FC 2, Philadelphia Union 1
- Orlando City SC vs. Inter Miami, 7 p.m. ET
- San Diego FC vs. St. Louis City SC, 9:15 p.m. ET (FS1)
Germán Berterame speaks to media
New Inter Miami star Germán Berterame, who joined the club from Liga MX side Monterrey in the offseason, is set to play in his Florida Derby match. He scored his first goal for the club during a preseason match against Ecuadorian side Barcelona S.C. on Feb. 7.
“I’m really eager to play in the derby, because we all know what it means to play in one,” Berterame said about facing Orlando City. “I see the group as very content, very motivated and really enthusiastic. So hopefully, it will be a great match.”
Inter Miami to visit White House
Inter Miami will visit President Donald Trump and the White House to celebrate its 2025 MLS Cup title before an match upcoming against D.C. United, a club source confirmed to USA TODAY Sports. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because the team hadn’t yet announced the plans.
Messi taken down by fan in Puerto Rico
Before the Orlando City match, catch up on this Messi news from last week:
Several pitch invaders disrupted the final minutes of a rescheduled match in Puerto Rico on Thursday Feb. 26, including one who hugged Messi and knocked him to the ground as a security guard tried to restrain the fan.
Messi was not injured after the sequence, and finished the match. He scored a penalty in the 70th minute to deliver a 2-1 win against Ecuadorian club Independiente del Valle.
The match followed Inter Miami’s season-opening 3-0 loss to LAFC on Saturday, Feb. 21.
MLS 2026 season predictions
Can Lionel Messi lead Inter Miami to consecutive league championships, thus becoming the first repeat MLS Cup winner since the Los Angeles Galaxy did it in 2011-12? Which teams are the top contenders to displace Miami’s station atop the league? Who will win league MVP honors? Which player will score the most goals and claim the Golden Boot?
Inter Miami’s upcoming schedule
- March 7: D.C. United vs. Inter Miami, 4:30 p.m. ET (MLS regular season)
- March 11: Nashville SC vs. Inter Miami, 7:30 p.m. ET (Concacaf Champions Cup)
- March 14: Charlotte FC vs. Inter Miami, 7:30 p.m. ET (MLS regular season)
- March 18: Inter Miami vs. Nashville SC, 7 p.m. ET (Concacaf Champions Cup)
- March 22: New York City FC vs. Inter Miami, 1 p.m. (MLS regular season)
