Orlando City
2024 Orlando City Season in Review: Nico Lodeiro
Let’s take a look at how the Uruguayan midfielder performed during his first year with the Lions.
Orlando City signed midfielder Nico Lodeiro back on Jan. 4. After spending all of his eight-year MLS career with the Seattle Sounders, he joined an Orlando team that had a big hole to fill in the attacking midfield after the departure of former captain Mauricio Pereyra. Despite his age and not occupying a Designated Player spot, it was widely assumed that the Uruguayan was intended to slot into his countryman’s spot in the starting lineup, and his eye for goal had the potential to help the Lions’ attack.
Let’s take a look back at Lodeiro’s first season wearing Orlando City purple.
Statistical Breakdown
Lodeiro appeared in each one of Orlando City’s 34 regular-season games, starting 16 of those and logging 1,697 minutes. He scored one goal in the regular season and contributed 11 assists, which matched his third-highest total in MLS. He attempted 36 shots and put 10 of them on target. He completed 87.5% of his passes, which was his best-ever completion percentage in an MLS season, as he delivered 1,215 of 1,389 accurately. He also recorded 46 key passes, 20 completed long balls, and 20 successful crosses. On defense, he notched 36 tackles, 14 interceptions, eight clearances, and three blocks. He committed 17 fouls and received two yellow cards, while drawing 29 fouls from the opposition.
Lodeiro appeared in each of Orlando’s five postseason games as a substitute, and recorded 58 minutes on the field. He did not record any goal contributions or shots, although he had the assist on a would-be Facundo Torres winner in Game 2 against Charlotte FC which was ultimately ruled offside. He completed 77.4% of his passes, and accurately delivered two key passes, two crosses, and two long balls. Defensively, he made three tackles, chipped in with a clearance, and committed one foul, for which he was not booked, whild drawing two on his opponents.
Nico appeared in all four of OCSC’s Concacaf Champions Cup matches, starting both matches against Tigres and coming on as a sub in both legs against Cavalry FC for a total of 270 minutes. He took four shots (one on target), and provided a goal and an assist in the home game against Cavalry. He completed 86% of his passes and provided one key pass and the aforementioned assist. Defensively, he contributed two tackles and one clearance while committing four fouls, picking up one yellow card, and drawing five fouls from the opposition.
He also started one of the Lions’ Leagues Cup matches and came on as a substitute in the other two, for three total appearances, amassing 83 minutes in the process. He did not score on his four shots (one on target), but he provided an assist in the 4-1 win over CF Montreal. He passed with 81.5% accuracy, completed one cross, and provided three key passes. He drew five fouls, committed one of his own, and was not booked.
Best Game
There are a couple of candidates for Nico’s best game, but in the end I had to go with the 3-2 away win over the Philadelphia Union. Lodeiro got the start in an unconventional 3-5-2 formation and was central to everything Orlando did on offense.
Following things breaking down after a corner kick, he played in a great left-footed cross from the end line which Duncan McGuire headed home to tie the game at 1-1.
He turned provider again just before halftime, as he flicked a pass to Luis Muriel, who then proceeded to cut in on his left foot and unleash a rocket into the top corner to give Orlando the lead.
The Uruguayan then helped put the game away just after halftime, as he half-volleyed a perfectly weighted through ball for Muriel, who calmly rolled the ball into the far corner.
Lodeiro’s offensive stat line in that game read three shots (one off target, two blocked), three assists, a team-high four key passes, and one through ball while drawing one foul. He passed with 85% accuracy and connected on two crosses and two long balls. Defensively, he had two tackles, one interception, one clearance, and one block, while committing one foul for which he was not booked. In our Player Grades piece, yours truly graded him an 8 out of 10, with only Luis Muriel’s 8.5 out of 10 preventing him from taking the Man of the Match award.
2024 Final Grade
The Mane Land staff awarded Lodeiro a composite grade of 6.5 out of 10 for his first season in an Orlando City uniform. The 13 assists that he provided across all competitions set a new club record and showcased what made him so devastating during all his years in Seattle. He didn’t provide a ton of threat on goal himself though, which was disappointing, considering he was no stranger to finding the back of the net with his previous team.
2025 Outlook
Lodeiro’s performances this season triggered an option year in his contract, so he’s slated to be back with the team next year. It wasn’t necessarily a bad season for him, particularly considering he’s 35 and played a lot of years on the unyielding turf of Lumen Field. Still, he was presumably brought in to take over Pereyra’s starting spot and wasn’t able to cement his hold on it, so there’s some disappointment there. He remains a great passer of the ball as evidenced by his assist numbers, but one league goal is a disappointing return, although it’s worth noting that he had one goal and one fewer assist for Seattle in MLS play during the 2023 season, despite playing almost 800 more minutes. Whether he starts consistently or not, he’s still got the quality to change games as a sub, and if he starts banging in a few goals, then he could make a reasonable case to see more time in the starting XI.