NEW YORK (Monday, August 11, 2025) – Orlando City SC forward Luis Muriel was voted the Major League Soccer Player of the Matchday for Matchday 28 of the 2025 MLS season.
The Colombia international’s two goals and assist boosted Orlando City SC to an emphatic 4-1 victory against in-state rival Inter Miami CF on Sunday night. Muriel got the scoring started early against the Herons, netting in the second minute, before bagging his brace in the 50th minute, and setting up midfielder Martín Ojeda for an insurance goal in the 58th minute.
Orlando has now won three straight matches and last night’s victory pushed the Lions into fourth place in the Eastern Conference with 44 points (12-6-8), just seven points behind the Supporters’ Shield-leading Philadelphia Union. The club has lost just once in league play since the start of July and won two of its three Leagues Cup Phase One matches to book one of four MLS berths to next week’s quarterfinals where they will face Toluca on Wednesday, August 20 (MLS Season Pass on Apple TV / Apple TV+).
Muriel’s 15 goal contributions are tied for second on the team this season, trailing only the 27 goal contributions from Ojeda, a Landon Donovan MVP candidate. Orlando’s trio of Designated Player attacking stars -- Muriel, Ojeda, and Marco Pašalić -- scored all four goals on Sunday night and have combined for 33 goals and 24 assists on the season.
Orlando got on the board quickly, as a nice interchange between Ojeda and Muriel sprung the striker on a run towards goal between Miami’s center backs in the second minute. He held strong as he split the defense and slotted the opener around goalkeeper Oscar Ustari to the right post for the early lead. After Miami equalized three minutes later, Muriel responded after the halftime break. In the 50th minute, Ojeda played a corner on the ground to Muriel on the end line and he dribbled around his mark before ripping a shot from a tight angle to the far right post to put Orlando back on top. Eight minutes later, Muriel repaid the favor with a ball over the top to a streaking Ojeda down the right wing and the midfielder slipped a hard-hit shot past a Miami defender and the ‘keeper to the near post for Orlando’s third.
Next up, Orlando will aim to continue its ascent up the Eastern Conference table on Saturday, August 16 when it plays host to Sporting Kanas City (7:30 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV).
It's the first career Player of the Matchday award for Muriel, now in his second MLS season. It’s also the first for Orlando City SC this season and the club’s first since Ramiro Enrique took home the weekly honors for his first career brace against the Columbus Crew on Matchday 32 in 2023. Muriel is the fifth player in franchise history to win the award, joining Enrique, Nani, Kaká, and Cyle Larin.
The MLS Player of the Matchday presented by Michelob Ultra is selected each matchday of the regular season through both media and fan voting in a process conducted by MLS Communications. A panel of journalists from the North American Soccer Reporters (NASR) comprises 75 percent of the vote, while an Instagram fan vote represents the remaining 25 percent of voting. NASR consists of members of print, television, radio, and online media.
