Luis Suarez Reflects on His Football Journey and the Impact of Lionel Messi

During his six-year tenure at FC Barcelona, Luis Suarez shared the pitch with numerous elite players, including Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba, and the Argentine superstar Lionel Messi. Following his departure from Barcelona, Suarez went on to represent clubs such as Atletico Madrid, Internacional, and Gremio, before embarking on a new journey in the United States. In Miami, he joined Inter Miami, a team co-owned by David Beckham, where he reunited with former Barcelona teammates, with Messi being the only one still actively competing in the sport.

Suarez has proven to be a pivotal player alongside Messi not just in Major League Soccer but also in the Leagues Cup and FIFA Club World Cup, amassing 14 goals and 15 assists in 40 appearances. As the MLS season approaches its climax, and with Inter Miami securing a spot in the conference semi-finals, Suarez may be contemplating a new adventure before concluding his illustrious career.

In a recent conversation with Sport, Suarez expressed his ongoing connection with Barcelona, stating, “Yes, I am always keeping up with Barcelona – the children too, because you don’t stop being a fan. You don’t stop having admiration for the club; you have affection for the club and you still have contact with people from the club. We still have a house there. Our planned idea is to return to Barcelona for everything it resulted in for us. We have confirmed it because of everything it gave us and because we always feel at home there.”

During his time at Barcelona, Suarez scored an impressive 195 goals and provided 113 assists across 283 matches. Over the course of his entire career, he has participated in 857 matches, netting 515 goals and delivering 278 assists, establishing himself as a revolutionary football icon not only in Uruguay but worldwide. He has concluded his international career after scoring 69 goals in 143 appearances for Uruguay.

Together with Messi and Neymar, Suarez has electrified the pitch on countless occasions, earning prestigious titles and accolades. Beyond their on-field chemistry, he shares a profound off-pitch bond with Messi. He remarked, “As the years went by, we got to know each other on the pitch. And over the years, we also know each other well off it. We can sense when one is in a good mood or when the other feels down. We share many internal conversations, and the truth is that it’s a beautiful stage we’re living, enjoying together. We sometimes look at each other and think about fulfilling what we talked about back at Barcelona: enjoying our final stages as football players together.”

At 38 years old, Suarez also discussed Messi’s pivotal role in the transformation of Inter Miami. He noted, “On the pitch, he is something unique, something unrepeatable, and he continues to do incredible things. He still has that obsession with winning, just like the rest of us. Sometimes the team wins, but he gets frustrated if a teammate doesn’t score. His determination is palpable, and it inspires all of us to achieve our objectives.”

Last season, Inter Miami secured the Supporters’ Shield, and this season, they have a promising opportunity to claim their first MLS title. On November 23, they will face Cincinnati in the semi-finals, and a victory in that match would bring them one step closer to this coveted accolade.