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Inter Miami's Argentine forward Lionel Messi celebrates after scoring as we look at our best Lionel Messi picks
Inter Miami’s Argentine forward Lionel Messi celebrates after scoring the team’s first goal during the Leagues Cup football match between Inter Miami CF and Atlanta United FC at DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Photo by CHANDAN KHANNA / AFP.

The pairing of Lionel Messi and Inter Miami seems like a perfect fit as we analyze our top picks for Wednesday’s Orlando City vs. Inter Miami game.

Messi has contributed to four goals in only two games, scoring a game-winning free-kick in his first match and a brace against Atlanta United, leading Miami to the round of 32 in the Leagues Cup. The next challenge is a home game against Orlando City SC in the knockout round.

Is South Florida becoming the new Barcelona with the addition of Andres Iniesta to the star-studded lineup of Messi, Sergio Busquets, and Jordi Alba? Miami is now the team to watch after winning both of its group games in the Leagues Cup competition.

Orlando will pose a challenge for Messi and his teammates. They are currently ranked seventh in the MLS league table with a 43% win rate, and have 19 more points than Miami. In their last meeting in May, Orlando defeated Inter 3-1.

With a road xGA of 1.64, will they be able to contain Lionel Messi?

Check out our top Lionel Messi selection for the Inter Miami vs. Orlando City game on Wednesday, with odds from the top soccer betting sites. Our pick confidence is rated on a scale of 1 to 5 stars.

Lionel Messi pick: Orlando City vs. Inter Miami

Lionel Messi to score two-plus goals (+400 via BetMGM) ⭐⭐⭐

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Inter Miami wrapped up the group stage with a 4-0 victory over Atlanta United last Tuesday. Lionel Messi has had a week to practice with his new teammates, while Orlando only secured their spot in the last 32 on Sunday with a dramatic 92nd minute winner by Wilder Cartagena against Santos Laguna. Inter Miami holds an advantage with an extra five days of rest.

Orlando City has only managed to keep a clean sheet in one of their last six games across all competitions, highlighting their average defense. The team is conceding an average of one goal per game when playing at home and 1.45 goals per game when playing away. While their defense isn’t abysmal, it may be vulnerable to a player like Messi who can exploit their weaknesses.

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In the game against Atlanta United, Inter Miami scored on 33% of their shots. While each opponent presents unique challenges, Miami’s ball possession improved from Messi’s debut as a substitute to his first start. With a full week of training alongside his teammates, Messi will be well-prepared for Wednesday’s game.

During the previous season of the UEFA Champions League, Messi’s expected goals (xG) stood at 2.6, a decrease from his 4.9 xG the season prior. This decrease can be attributed to facing tougher opponents like Juventus, Benfica, and Bayern Munich compared to Orlando City. With the addition of Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets to his supporting team, Messi’s scoring potential is expected to rise from his last performance with Miami colors.

He scored two goals against Atlanta. I suggest betting on him to do it again against Orlando on Wednesday. Take advantage of the enhanced odds from BetMGM with our BetMGM bonus code for the Inter Miami vs. Orlando City game.

Lionel Messi best odds

BetMGM +400

DraftKingsFanDuelBetMGMCaesarsPointsBet
Messi to score two-plus goalsMessi to score two-plus goalsMessi to score two-plus goalsMessi to score two-plus goalsMessi to score two-plus goals
N/A+220+400+210N/A

Inter Miami’s top scorer in MLS this season is Josef Martinez with 6 goals in 20 games. In contrast, Lionel Messi has scored 3 goals in just two appearances for Miami, despite not playing a full match yet.

David Beckham didn’t sign Messi just to boost jersey sales. He believes Messi can bring success to his franchise, with the team’s attack centered around the number 10. Messi’s career xG of 146.3 indicates he is a prolific goal scorer who will consistently find the back of the net.

Messi’s debut Leagues Cup win in North America would be the perfect way to kick off his time in the MLS season. The odds of him scoring at any time have been reduced, with BetMGM offering the best value at -135 and FanDuel at -220.

BetMGM is offering exceptional value on a multi-score performance that is nearly double what other competitors are offering, making it an opportunity that should not be missed.

Messi has shown that he can score multiple goals even in limited playing time. Despite having additional training, it is uncertain how much playing time he will receive. I recommend placing three stars on this play and taking advantage of the odds with our Caesars Promo Code and BetRivers Promo Code to find extra value.

Orlando City vs. Inter Miami game info

  • Date: Wednesday, Aug. 2, 8 p.m. ET
  • TV: Apple TV
  • Location: DRV PNK Stadium, Fort Lauderdale, Florida
  • Weather: 84 degrees, 2% chance of precipitation, 9 mph winds

Lionel Messi’s Leagues Cup selection was announced on 08/01/2026 at 1 p.m. ET.

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