Luis Muriel is making Orlando fans eat their words (and it's about time) | OneFootball

It's fair to say that most Orlando City fans have been rather underwhelmed by Designated Player Luis Muriel's first eighteen months playing in purple.

Just five goals followed his much-coveted move from Serie A giants Atalanta in 2024, as the Colombian often looked lethargic in the Central Florida humidity and beyond.

Year two, however, began with some promise. Six goals and a handful of assists in Orlando's first fourteen outings of 2025 was the perfect way to respond to his critics. But then, once again, he hit that slump.

His next fourteen games passed without a single goal, as Orlando's own form began to tank from being genuine Supporters' Shield contenders in May to just three wins in ten games over the early summer.

In that same run, Óscar Pareja's side was also dumped out of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup by a second-string Nashville SC team, and looked certain to fail to advance into the knockout rounds of this summer's Leagues Cup after surrendering yet another 1-0 lead at home to Pumas UNAM.

Orlando needed a miracle in their third and final Phase One outing against Necaxa, and that's just what they got courtesy of their Colombian striker. Only a huge win would likely see them progress, and Muriel's quick-fire hat-trick helped Orlando cruise to a 5-1 scoreline and a safe passage into the quarter-finals.

Yet another inspired performance for Orlando City SC

Then came Sunday night's meeting with Florida rivals Inter Miami. Lose, and Orlando would find themselves in 6th position in the Eastern Conference, level on points with Charlotte FC in 7th. But this is not the same Orlando side that failed to beat Miami in their first five attempts in the Messi era, including that 5-0 embarrassment in Fort Lauderdale in early 2024.

With yet another two goals and a man-of-the-match display, Muriel outshone his opposite number Luis Suárez and even free-scoring teammate Martín Ojeda to inspire Orlando to an emphatic 4-1 victory.

Muriel is finally exuding that same confidence that saw him become a star in Italy. Even after his early goal had been cancelled out by Yannick Bright, the Colombian attempted an outrageous 40-yard first-time volley with Miami 'keeper Oscar Ustari miles off his line, only being denied a goal of the season contender by the foot of the post.

But that narrow miss only spurred Muriel on, reestablishing Orlando's lead shortly after the half-time break by bullying Jordi Alba off the ball from a short corner and firing beyond Ustari for a second time that evening.

Luis Muriel: The difference maker?

With the Supporters' Shield likely out of reach, Orlando's hopes of clinching a second MLS-era title this season depend on overcoming a daunting Leagues Cup bracket or finally banishing their MLS Cup Playoffs woes in the autumn.

Both are a tough ask, but given their current form, Orlando must be considered one of the favorities to take home the Leagues Cup trophy. A meeting with recent Liga MX Clausura champions Toluca awaits in the quarter-finals, before a rematch with Miami or Orlando's Concacaf Champions Cup nemesis Tigres would stand in their way of the final if they progress.

If Muriel maintains his own form, Orlando stand every chance. Far too often a misfiring, highly-paid striker has cost Orlando in the biggest of ways, but Muriel seems to finally be proving his worth.

Even with the likes of Ojeda and fellow Designated Player Marco Pašalić, who have notched a combined 25 league goals already this season, Orlando have struggled to kill off teams due to their notoriously leaky defense. Pareja's often-conservative tactics have also seen Orlando drop points, organising his team to see out a narrow lead rather than go for the kill.

But now that Muriel has joined the party, three prolific DPs might finally convince Pareja to let loose a little and keep his best attackers on the field for as long as possible.

If these recent wins against Columbus Crew, Necaxa, and now Miami are anything to go by, Orlando can outscore anyone in North America. With Muriel now back to his best, Pareja and co. have serious hopes of clinching more hardware.