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2024 Orlando City Season in Review: Luis Muriel

The Colombian forward started slowly, but showed a lot of promise as he grew into the season.

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Orlando City announced the signing of Luis Muriel back on Feb. 15. The Colombian international arrived from Serie A side Atalanta on a three-year deal and slotted in as the team’s third Designated Player alongside Facundo Torres and Martin Ojeda. The club began looking for another striker when it appeared that Duncan McGuire would be on the move to England, and when he stayed, Muriel found himself in a crowded striker depth chart with he, McGuire, Ramiro Enrique, and Jack Lynn all competing for minutes.

The logjam at forward, combined with a late arrival to camp and missing preseason with the team, meant that Muriel took a little time to get going. As a result, he had a fairly worrying start to the season. He settled in after a few months though, and began turning in some much-improved performances off the bench.

Let’s take a look at how Muriel performed during the 2024 season.

Statistical Breakdown

Muriel appeared in 33 regular-season games for the Lions, starting 14 of those and playing a total of 1,582 minutes. He scored five goals and added seven assists, attempting 55 shots and put 17 of them on target. The veteran forward completed 81.3% of his passes, including 37 key passes, two successful crosses, and 22 long balls, while also amassing 43 dribbles. Defensively, he totaled 25 tackles, three interceptions, and seven clearances. He committed 30 fouls, suffered 23, and received two yellow cards.

He also played in three Concacaf Champions Cup matches for Orlando, starting the home match against Cavalry FC and both matches against Tigres, logging 223 minutes. He didn’t score in the competition but provided an assist, attempting four shots and putting two on target. He passed with 82.4% accuracy and played one key pass. On defense, he contributed three clearances. The Colombian forward committed two fouls, drew three on his opponents, and he was not booked.

Muriel made two Leagues Cup appearances — both as a substitute — appearing for 39 minutes in total. He did not provide a goal contribution, although he scored his penalty attempt against Cruz Azul in the postgame shootout after the teams drew. He attempted two off-target shots, passing with 88.9% accuracy, and he did not record any defensive statistics in the competition.

Finally, he appeared as a substitute in all five of OCSC’s postseason games, and logged 89 minutes in the process. While he didn’t record an official goal contribution, he scored on both of his penalty shootout attempts against Kristijan Kahlina in the opening series against Charlotte FC. Muriel attempted six postseason shots, putting one on target, and passing with 79.5% accuracy, including three key passes. He didn’t register any defensive stats. Muriel did not commit a foul and drew five on his opponents and was not booked.

Best Game

There were a couple of candidates for Muriel’s best performance, but I went with Orlando’s 3-2 road win against the Philadelphia Union. The Colombian started that match at striker and played 85 minutes as part of a 3-5-2 alongside Duncan McGuire. The formation was one that was necessitated due to injury as both Rafael Santos and Dagur Dan Thorhallsson were unavailable. The unfamiliar formation didn’t seem to bother Muriel as he opened his Orlando City account in style, cutting onto his left foot in the 41st minute and unleashed a rocket into the top corner.

He followed that up with the eventual game-winner just seconds after halftime. He managed to find a pocket of space in the Union’s back line and Nico Lodeiro’s pass was perfectly weighted to put him in on goal. Muriel used one touch to get the ball out from his feet and his second touch to slide the ball beyond a helpless Oliver Semmle.

His involvement went beyond the two goals though. In addition, he played two key passes, completed a game-high five dribbles, drew two fouls, took three shots (two on target, one off target), completed three long balls, and passed with 85.2% accuracy. On defense, he contributed one tackle and committed one foul, but was not booked.

In the Player Grades piece penned by yours truly, I graded Muriel as an 8.5 out of 10, as he narrowly edged out a superb Nico Lodeiro, who was given an 8.

2024 Final Grade

Our staff here at The Mane Land awarded Muriel a composite grade of 6 out of 10 for his first season wearing purple. It was a difficult start to the season for him, much as it was for most of the team, but he showed some improvement as the season went on and did some good things while being asked to come off the bench.

2025 Outlook

Muriel is under contract through the end of the 2026 season and is on some pretty big money, so barring something very unforeseen he’ll be back next year. He’s a particularly interesting case. His talent and ability is obvious whenever he steps on the field, but we didn’t see a ton of him leading the line in a full-strength team. His vision, passing range, and dribbling ability are among the best on the team, and he probably should have had at least six more assists but was held back by his teammates’ finishing.

There’s no denying that he had a pretty dreadful start to the year, but he quietly morphed into having a pretty fantastic end to the season. The duality of that shows in his final grade for 2024. The main issue is that by the time he started to heat up, Enrique and McGuire were bagging goals, and Oscar Pareja almost always goes with whoever the hot hand is. Going forward, I’d like for the coaching staff to find a way to get him on the field, whether that’s as part of a two-forward system, or he’s slotting in as a no.10, as we often saw him do off the substitutes’ bench. A full off-season will hopefully do him good and help justify the big contract that OCSC gave him.


Previous Season in Review Articles (Date Posted)

Lion Links

Lion Links: 7/2/25

Big names leave Toronto FC, hot conditions in Club World Cup match, FIFPRO makes ACL recommendations, and more.

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Happy Wednesday, everyone. It already feels like it’s been a long week, as I just got home from being out of town traveling up and down the East Coast for the last few days. The soccer world hasn’t stopped in my absence though, and as usual we have a lot to cover today. Let’s wish a happy birthday to OCB defender Tahir Reid-Brown, and jump into today’s links!

Italians Leave Toronto FC

It’s the end of an era at Toronto FC, as the club has parted ways with both Federico Bernardeschi, and Lorenzo Insigne. The Reds used both of their two buyouts of guaranteed contracts this season in order to get the transactions done, so the club was pretty keen to get them out the door. It’s hard to blame the Reds, as Insigne was the second-highest paid player in the league while Bernardeschi was the fifth highest. They didn’t have much to show for it though, as Bernardeschi had 26 goals and 22 assists in 99 games across all competitions, while Insigne had 19 goals and 17 assists in 76 matches. TFC never made the playoffs while the duo was on the team, and the decision to turn the page is an understandable one.

Difficult Conditions in Juventus vs. Real Madrid

The Club World Cup Round of 16 concluded on Tuesday, with Real Madrid knocking off Juventus 1-0 in afternoon match. Kylian Mbappe made his tournament debut for Madrid as a substitute, but it was Gonzalo Garcia’s 54th-minute goal that made the difference in the game. Juve boss Igor Tudor highlighted the difficult conditions in Miami, saying in his postgame press conference that 10 different players asked to come off the field during the game. Tudor didn’t outright blame the loss on the high heat and humidity during the 3 p.m. kickoff at Hard Rock Stadium, but noted that they were among several factors that made the game a very difficult one for his side.

FIFPRO Makes Recommendations to Curb ACL Tears

Amid a rash of ACL injuries to women’s soccer players, FIFPRO has made some recommendations to cut down on the rate at which they occur. Rather than focusing on things that can’t be controlled, the federation has suggested modifying the calendar, number of games, and the playing surfaces. FIFPRO member Alex Culvin is calling for minimum standards in the women’s game relating to pitch conditions and access to physiotherapists. More research around risk factors is also necessary, as is implementing preventative exercises at the youth levels of the game.

Transfer Rumor Roundup

Summer transfer business is in full swing, so let’s catch up on some of the hot rumors currently flying around. First up, Arsenal is said to be in the final stages of signing Viktor Gyokeres to a five-year deal. Staying in the Premier League, Manchester United is reportedly interested in signing midfielder Fabian Ruiz from Paris Saint-Germain. Juventus reportedly is close to signing Jonathan David after his contract with Lille expired. Finally, Bayern Munich is reportedly preparing a formal offer for Liverpool for Colombian winger Luis Diaz.

Free Kicks

Apparently a non -#usmnt drone has crashed the training session. US Soccer staff aiming to identify it.

Jeff Carlisle (@jeffreycarlisle.bsky.social) 2025-07-01T17:25:12.954Z

That’s all I have for you this morning. Vamos Orlando!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 7/1/25

Pride signings, OCB draws, both U.S. national teams in action Wednesday, and more.

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Jeremy Reper

Welcome to July, Mane Landers. If you’re like me, you balanced the excitement and dread of the USMNT advancing on penalty kicks the other night. It was one thing watching Guatemala take out Canada but a whole other level of heart palpitating stress while watching the U.S. avoid a similar fate. There’s no time to relax with plenty of soccer to watch as we head towards Independence Day. Before we get to the links, please join us in wishing Orlando Pride/USWNT defender Emily Sams and OCB defender Clovis Archange each a happy birthday.

Orlando Pride Signings

The Orlando Pride announced a pair of transactions Monday. Midfielder Viviana Villacorta and the club have agreed to exercise the midfielder’s mutual option for the 2026 season. Villacorta was the No. 9 overall pick in the 2021 NWSL Draft. The Pride also signed midfielder Ally Lemos to a new contract through the 2027 season with a mutual option for 2028. The Pride selected Lemos with the No. 9 overall pick of the 2024 NWSL Draft. Orlando continues to lock down current players ahead of time. Now, we wait to see if any new players will be added.

OCB Earns a Point on the Road

Orlando City B played Philadelphia Union II to a 1-1 draw in a Monday afternoon match. Unfortunately, the Young Lions lost the end-of-regulation shootout 4-2 and did not get the additional point. Gustavo Caraballo assisted Jackson Platts on the early goal for OCB. Philadelphia equalized early in the second half. Carlos Mercado was the difference maker in the match, recording a career-high 12 saves.

USMNT’s Gold Cup Run Continues vs. Guatemala

The USMNT will face Guatemala Wednesday night in a 2025 Gold Cup semifinal match. The U.S. advanced past Costa Rica on penalties thanks to a stellar performance from goalkeeper Matt Freese. Guatemala stunned Canada with a second-half equalizer and advanced on penalty kicks. Guatemala has been the overachieving underdog of the competition so far. This will be the USMNT’s 17th Gold Cup semifinal appearance.

USWNT Hosts Canada

The USWNT will host Canada in a third friendly of this international window Wednesday at Washington, D.C.’s Audi Field. The U.S. is coming off two 4-0 victories over the Republic of Ireland. Canada should prove a tougher opponent for Emma Hayes’ squad. There is a possibility that the match will feature two Orlando Pride players — Emily Sams for the U.S. and Zara Chavoshi for Canada. Kerry Abello has returned to her club team after picking up a knock.

Free Kicks

Sources: Bayer Leverkusen are finalizing a deal to sign USMNT attacker Malik Tillman from PSV.Deal in region of $40m.

Tom Bogert (@tombogert.bsky.social) 2025-06-30T20:36:24.359Z
  • Former Orlando Pride midfielder Erika Tymrak has retired from professional soccer.

That will do it for today. Check back as we get you ready for Orlando City’s match against Charlotte FC this weekend. Vamos Orlando!

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Orlando City

Orlando City Striker Ramiro Enrique Hindered By Inconsistency

Ramiro Enrique’s inconsistent play raises the question if he can be the go-to striker Orlando City desperately needs.

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Orlando City’s strike force has been inconsistent this season, to say the least. At times, the players up top have looked like they can score at will, but at other times, they struggle on chances they should finish. Nobody displays that inconsistency better than Ramiro Enrique.

Joining the Lions in 2023, Enrique has primarily served in a backup role for Ercan Kara, Duncan McGuire, and Luis Muriel. The young Argentine has had the occasional start, but ultimately ends up back on the bench, entering later in games. 

Orlando City acquired Muriel prior to the 2024 season when it appeared McGuire was on his way to Blackburn Rovers. However, the English side’s struggle with simple paperwork resulted in the Omaha, NE, native returning to Orlando. It left Oscar Pareja with some decisions to make.

The Lions often employ a 4-4-2 formation with a single striker and Muriel playing underneath. As a result, the three forwards all saw plenty of action in 2024.  Enrique started 12 games, Muriel 14, and McGuire was listed 18 times in the starting lineup. However, Enrique’s strong form near the end of the season saw him start 11 of the final 12 regular-season games and all five playoff contests.

Aiding Enrique’s playing time were injuries to McGuire. The 6-foot-1 striker suffered a shoulder injury on Nov. 9 in an MLS Cup playoff game against Charlotte FC, guaranteeing a starting spot for Enrique. As McGuire continued to work towards his return at the start of the year, Enrique took his place.

At times, it looks like Enrique is more than a substitute for Muriel or McGuire and can be the go-to scorer the Lions have struggled to find since Daryl Dike. But his inconsistency eventually returns, making it hard for Pareja to depend on the young attacker. That issue has been most noticeable during the two most recent games.

Putting shots on frame has been a struggle for the Lions this year, but it wasn’t for Enrique Wednesday night in St. Louis. After the Lions lost back-to-back games against Atlanta United and the Chicago Fire, Enrique was inserted into the starting lineup for Muriel. He took advantage of his opportunity in St. Louis, placing three of his five shots on target. He scored a first-half brace, giving his team a commanding three-goal lead after just 22 minutes.

In the seventh minute, Martin Ojeda sent a strong ball across the box that Enrique ran onto with perfect timing. He didn’t try to do too much, tapping the ball in on the slide. After Marco Pasalic made it 2-0, a bad turnover in the 22nd minute gave the striker a second chance. He was in on goal and made no mistake, slamming the ball past Roman Burki to make it 3-0.

The performance had many wondering if the team had finally found the striker it had been looking for since McGuire went down. But it wasn’t to be as Enrique reverted to his inconsistency with a poor performance in Saturday night’s 2-1 loss to FC Cincinnati.

The striker was unable to put any of his three shots on target, but that’s only part of the story. It’s how he failed to score that was the bigger problem.

In the 51st minute, Pasalic forced Brian Anunga into a turnover just outside the Cincinnati box. Enrique made a run toward the near post and Pasalic found him. The striker should’ve had no problem putting the shot on target, but he hit the ball with his left foot as his right came through, knocking the ball out of play for a goal kick.

He had a chance to redeem himself in second-half stoppage time with the Lions looking for an equalizer. Rafael Santos played a beautiful ball to the near post that only required a slight touch to beat Roman Celentano. However, the striker sent his header well wide, squandering a golden opportunity to claim a point.

These two games show the inconsistency that has plagued Enrique throughout his Orlando City career. He’ll look to be in excellent form and ready to claim the starting striker role, only to follow it up with a poor performance. It’s something that has held the Argentine back since his arrival and continues to do so this year.

Even more troublesome, it leaves Orlando City without a dependable striker. McGuire can’t seem to get over his shoulder problems, and he is currently on the sidelines again while he recovers from surgery on the opposite shoulder to the one he hurt in last year’s playoffs. Muriel and Ojeda often partner each other up top, but both are more comfortable in midfield positions.

Injuries and players in uncomfortable positions provide Enrique with the perfect situation. Consistent scoring would assure Pareja that he can depend on the 24-year-old to produce the goals his team has been searching for. But the striker can’t seem to put it together over the span of multiple games.

He’ll have plenty of opportunities in the near future to win the position he undoubtedly craves. McGuire’s absence due to injury and Muriel’s preference to play underneath means Enrique will likely get more playing time. However, he needs to show more consistency if he wants to hold onto the starting spot long-term.

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