Inter Miami CF will travel to face their in-state rivals, Orlando City SC, for a crucial MLS regular-season showdown on Sunday, August 10, but they will do so without their biggest star. The highly anticipated Florida Derby is set for an 8 p.m. ET kickoff at Inter&Co Stadium, with major implications for the Eastern Conference playoff race.
The headline news heading into the match is the confirmed absence of Inter Miami captain Lionel Messi. The Argentine superstar is recovering from a muscle injury in his right leg, which he sustained during a recent Leagues Cup match against Necaxa. The injury forced him out of that game in the 11th minute and also sidelined him for a subsequent match against Pumas UNAM. According to a report from Sports Illustrated, Miami’s coaching staff has opted not to risk their talisman in Orlando, with an eye on the packed schedule ahead. Messi was seen training individually on Saturday, away from the main group.
Messi’s absence is a significant blow for the Herons. He has been in scintillating form this season, leading the MLS Golden Boot race with 18 goals in 18 league appearances. However, Inter Miami remains a formidable opponent, boasting a roster filled with international talent. The team can still call upon former European stars such as Luis Suárez, Sergio Busquets, Rodrigo De Paul, and Jordi Alba. Suárez has been a key playmaker with double-digit assists to go along with five goals, while Tadeo Allende and Telasco Segovia have each contributed seven goals this season. Miami will also be without starting goalkeeper Drake Callender, who is out with a sports hernia injury.
For Orlando City, this match presents a golden opportunity. The Lions enter the contest sitting just one point behind Inter Miami in the Eastern Conference standings, with 41 points to Miami’s 42. A victory at home would see them leapfrog their rivals. Orlando is coming into the game with momentum, fresh off a dominant 5-1 victory over Necaxa in the Leagues Cup. The team’s leader this season has been midfielder Martín Ojeda, who has been instrumental in their attack, tallying an impressive 13 goals and 12 assists in regular-season play, as noted by Inter Miami’s official match preview. However, Orlando is dealing with its own injury concerns, with Joran Gerbet (thigh), Duncan McGuire (shoulder), Wilder Cartagena (Achilles), and Yutaro Tsukada (knee) all listed as unavailable.
The history between these two clubs adds another layer of intrigue to the matchup. This will be their second meeting of the 2025 season. In their last encounter on May 18, Orlando City secured a decisive 3-0 victory in Fort Lauderdale. Historically, the series has been tightly contested, but Orlando holds a slight edge with a 6-5-5 record across all competitions, according to The Mane Land. Orlando City Head Coach Oscar Pareja emphasized the importance of the match, stating, “Our intention is to create a new one, and hopefully here in front of our fans. That is what we are aiming for.”
With both teams jockeying for playoff positioning and bragging rights on the line, Sunday’s clash promises to be a tense and compelling affair, even without one of the game’s greatest players on the pitch.
