Griezmann scores on debut, Lewandowski quiet as Messi-less Miami beats Chicago

By Avi Creditor

The entirety of MLS was in action Wednesday night, and save for the handful of teams who featured a week ago, the 15-match slate marked the return to play from the World Cup break.

Despite MLS's assertion that it'll "take it from here" after the summer tournament, there was bound to be an adjustment period after a full two months off, as some teams rediscover their rhythm while others work in new signings. As part of the latter, that meant a spotlight on the league's two new marquee names:

• Robert Lewandowski — Chicago Fire
• Antoine Griezmann — Orlando City

Griezmann Shines in Orlando Debut

Griezmann was by far the more impressive of the two on the night, scoring to open his MLS account while generally fitting in rather seamlessly. He appeared to benefit from Orlando having played a pair of friendlies before the season's restart — one against USL's Tampa Bay Rowdies and another against FC Dallas. The French World Cup winner scored in both, giving him a greater sense of interconnectedness with his new teammates before his official debut.

It showed in a shorthanded Orlando side's impressive 4-0 win at the San Jose Earthquakes, with Griezmann scoring — officially, for the first time as a Lion — while also enjoying a high degree of effective link-up play in his 90-minute showing.

Key moments from Griezmann's performance:

• 5th minute: Attempted a spectacular lob from long range after catching new San Jose goalkeeper Angus Gunn well off his line, only to overhit his chance.
• 12th minute: Dropped deeper and played a great ball in behind, springing Tiago down the left on a 2-v-2 that ultimately didn't pan out.
• First-half stoppage time: Delivered another slick touch, clipping a ball to Griffin Dorsey, whose subsequent move was blocked.
• 48th minute (goal): Capitalized on a poor giveaway in the San Jose back line. Orlando forward Justin Ellis, 19, pounced on a sloppy pass and quickly fed Griezmann, who displayed quick feet and a lefty, near-post finish to put the result out of reach.

The goal was also Griezmann's 300th career club goal in all competitions.

GRIZI GETS HIS FIRST IN @MLS 🔥 — Orlando City SC (@OrlandoCitySC) July 23, 2026

Lewandowski's Quiet Night in Miami

If Lewandowski wasn't quite familiar with what kind of league MLS can be sometimes, he got a crash course quickly. Namely, it's a league where a player of his caliber can go quiet in an anticipated moment, while a homegrown, babyfaced player donning the No. 59 — Preston Plambeck — can become a hero.

Lewandowski endured 62 goalless minutes Wednesday night at Inter Miami in the Fire's 3-2 defeat against a side missing Lionel Messi and Rodrigo De Paul, while new signing Casemiro watched from a suite next to Miami ownership.

Miami did have Luis Suárez, however, and the Uruguayan star upstaged his Polish counterpart, scoring twice and forcing the save that yielded the rebound for Plambeck's 87th-minute winner — the first goal of the 20-year-old's career.

Plambeck!! 🔥⚽ — Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) July 23, 2026

Wednesday was Lewandowski's second shot at his MLS debut. The first — a home match vs. Vancouver and former Bayern Munich teammate Thomas Müller slated for last Thursday — was postponed due to air quality as a result of the Canadian wildfires.

Regardless of the setting and the opponent, there's always going to be a heightened level of expectation on a player of Lewandowski's stature, but there is true pressure for him to perform right away given the circumstances.