Griezmann stands out as Lewandowski quiet in MLS match

On July 23, 2026, MLS returned with a full slate of 15 matches following a break for the World Cup. The night highlighted two new marquee signings: Antoine Griezmann of Orlando City and Robert Lewandowski of the Chicago Fire. Griezmann stood out, scoring his first goal in MLS during Orlando's impressive 4-0 victory against the San Jose Earthquakes.

Griezmann, who had played in two friendly matches prior, blended well with his new team. He registered several chances before finally scoring in the 48th minute, thanks to a mistake by the San Jose defense. His goal marked his 300th career club goal across all competitions.

In contrast, Lewandowski had a muted performance, failing to score in his much-anticipated debut against Inter Miami, which lost 3-2. Even without Lionel Messi and Rodrigo De Paul, Miami's Luis Suárez managed to shine, netting two goals. Lewandowski's only notable chance was blocked, and he could not capitalize on Miami’s goalkeeper's blunder. The pressure was on him to quickly adapt and replicate the prolific scoring of his predecessor, Hugo Cuypers.

Looking ahead, on September 9, Chicago will meet Miami again, with expectations high for a more competitive matchup, potentially featuring Messi, Casemiro, and De Paul. In an intriguing clash, Orlando will host Chicago on August 19, just before Lewandowski’s 38th birthday, another opportunity for the two stars to make an impression in the league.