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Inter Miami vs. Orlando City Predictions & Messi Picks: Argentinian Icon Leads Unbeaten Start

Anthony Wootton

Last Updated: March 2, 2024 1:15 PM EST • 2 min 60 sec read.

Lionel Messi of Inter Miami at Dignity Health Sports Park as we look at our Inter Miami-Orlando Messi picks.
Lionel Messi of Inter Miami at Dignity Health Sports Park. Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images/AFP.

Lionel Messi’s stoppage-time equalizer on Sunday saved his side from dropping all three points in only its second match of the season, and we make our Inter Miami vs. Orlando City predictions and Messi picks based on the odds from our best sports betting sites.

Lionel Messi thus far paces MLS in shots on target. After two matches, which have resulted in four points for Inter Miami, he has six efforts on goal.

Meanwhile, Orlando City managed 15 shots at home against Montreal in their season opener, but they failed to put one past Impact goalkeeper Jonathan Sirois.

Now, Orlando City travel to South Florida to take on an Inter Miami team that's scored in each of its two games. Messi and Luis Suarez have tallied three goals between them this campaign. Will they keep up their strong form on Saturday?

Here are our best Inter Miami vs. Orlando City predictions for Saturday's matchup, along with our top Lionel Messi pick (odds via our best soccer betting sites; pick confidence is based on a 1-to-5-star scale).

Inter Miami vs. Orlando City prediction: Saturday

Under 2.5 goals (+120 via DraftKings) ⭐⭐⭐

You may be questioning this play with so much firepower at Miami's disposal, but the team is still gelling and dealing with injuries. Messi and Suarez have built a phenomenal history together, but they hadn’t played with one another for nearly four years before reuniting in Miami.

Orlando City have kept clean sheets in four straight away matches during all competitions for the first time in club history, and both teams like to keep possession. Orlando registered 60% of possession in its opener with Montreal.

Meanwhile, Inter has kept the ball for an average of 59% of play across their last two games. If one team takes the lead, that side will make it tough for the other to develop any form of attack. Orlando has posted an xG of 0.19, while Miami’s is 1.69.

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Inter Miami vs. Orlando City best odds

DraftKings (+120)

DraftKingsFanDuelBetMGMCaesarsbet365
Under 2.5 goalsUnder 2.5 goalsUnder 2.5 goalsUnder 2.5 goalsUnder 2.5 goals
+120+118+110+120+115

Our best sportsbooks clearly believe there will be goals in this game. We can work that to our advantage and take the higher odds.

This match could be tough viewing at times, with each team passing the ball around to maintain possession, and not much happening in attack. Goals could be sparse, which is what we want. Each side’s willingness to keep the ball is why we’re leaning hard toward a low-scoring affair. The odds have been staying the same throughout the week. This is great value.

See all of our MLS odds.

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Lionel Messi odds

Messi anytime scorer (FanDuel -105) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

DraftKingsFanDuelBetMGMCaesarsbet365
Messi anytime scorerMessi anytime scorerMessi anytime scorerMessi anytime scorerMessi anytime scorer
-120-105-120-120-105

Lionel Messi prediction

Messi has recorded a goal contribution in each of his two outings for Miami this season. He's logged 12 goals and six assists across 16 appearances in all competitions since joining the club last summer. He leads the league this season in shots (13) and shots on target (six).

Messi’s equalizing goal at 90+2 against the LA Galaxy last Sunday was the 14th time he’s scored a result-changing goal in second-half stoppage time during his career for club and country.

He’s a threat when simply on the field, and that's why Messi is a play for us in this match.

Inter Miami vs. Orlando City game info

  • Date: Saturday, March 2 at 4:30 p.m. ET
  • TV: Apple TV
  • Location: Chase Stadium, Fort Lauderdale, FL
  • Weather: 79 degrees, 13% chance of precipitation, 9-mph winds

Inter Miami vs. Orlando City prediction made Friday at 9 a.m. ET.

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Written By:
Anthony Wootton
Anthony is an accredited NFL journalist and has been reporting on the league for over a decade, covering the London games for the BBC and other broadcast outlets. He's presented a North American sports show for national radio across the UK, which is now the TransAtlantic Sports Show podcast. Anthony has also produced and presented radio documentaries on football for global audiences. He has years of betting experience, writing NFL tips for some of the industry's biggest sportsbooks. He's a producer of sports content, including Premier League, LaLiga, Bundesliga, Champions League, and international soccer. He's a keen follower of sport, and a long-time sufferer of English Championship team, Blackburn Rovers. He's a keen runner and completed a challenge of running every day in 2021, which included a minimum distance of 5km in the rules.