Three Stars, Three Debuts: First Impressions of MLS’s Newest Global Icons
The post-World Cup return of MLS brought more than just regular-season action. It delivered the long-awaited debuts of three major European names: Antoine Griezmann, Robert Lewandowski, and Casemiro.
Each arrived with huge expectations. Here’s how they looked in their first steps on American soil — and how we rate them after the opening chapter.
1. Antoine Griezmann (Orlando City) — 8.5/10
The clear winner of the three.
Griezmann didn’t just debut — he announced himself. In Orlando’s emphatic 4-0 win over San Jose, the Frenchman scored his first MLS goal in the 48th minute, a composed near-post finish that also marked the 300th club goal of his career.
What stood out even more than the goal was how naturally he fit. Intelligent movement, quick combinations, and constant involvement in the final third. He looked like a player who had already trained with his new teammates for months rather than days.
Griezmann brought structure and creativity to an Orlando side that needed both. Early returns suggest the Lions may have found the missing piece.
First Impression: Instant impact. Looks ready to carry the attack.
2. Casemiro (Inter Miami) — 7.5/10
Quietly impressive.
While the headlines from Miami’s 1-0 win in Montreal focused on Luis Suárez’s Panenka and Germán Berterame’s scary injury, Casemiro did exactly what he was signed to do.
The Brazilian controlled the tempo, completed nearly 90% of his passes, and looked completely unfazed by the physical nature of MLS midfield battles. He dictated rhythm without forcing the issue and gave Miami a stabilizing presence in the absence of Messi and De Paul.
It wasn’t flashy, but it was authoritative. The kind of performance that makes teammates around him look better.
First Impression: Calm, composed, and already influencing the game from deep.
3. Robert Lewandowski (Chicago Fire) — 5.5/10
The slowest start of the three.
Lewandowski’s debut against Inter Miami (a 3-2 loss) was underwhelming by his standards. He played just over an hour, recorded limited touches in dangerous areas, and failed to test the goalkeeper. A second appearance against NYCFC produced a similar lack of goal threat.
The movement was still intelligent, and the work rate was there, but the sharpness in front of goal that defined his career at Bayern and Barcelona has not yet appeared. At 37, adaptation time was always expected — yet the early numbers show a player still searching for rhythm and service.
Chicago will need to create better chances for him. Lewandowski remains a high-level finisher, but the system around him has to catch up.
First Impression: Professional but quiet. Needs time and better service.
The Bigger Picture
These three arrivals represent different stages of the MLS star experiment.
Griezmann looks like an immediate difference-maker. Casemiro provides the kind of midfield control that wins games over a full season. Lewandowski still has the quality, but the early evidence suggests the adjustment will take longer.
One week is never enough to judge a player’s full impact. Still, the early hierarchy is clear.
Griezmann has set the highest bar. Casemiro has given Miami exactly what they needed. Lewandowski has left us waiting for the version we know he can be.
The next month will tell us far more than the first week did.