Lionel Messi is still too different and attracts the media, but Luis Suarez is Inter Miami’s 2024 MVP for now.

There is a familiar band in the land of flags

Throughout his career, Messi has had many trusted teammates to help him reach the pinnacle of the sport, but no one did it better than Luis Suarez. If Messi is the lead singer of the Barcelona band, then Suarez is the drummer behind him, the one who always ensures the band’s rhythm is never interrupted.

El Pulga has built himself a familiar “band” at Inter Miami. It featured Sergio Busquets, the man who set the “tone” in midfield, and Jordi Alba – the mobile full-back whose solo efforts produced some of Messi’s moments of magic. However, Suarez is the one who stands out the most. Yes, even more than Messi. Even in the twilight of his career, Su Hare continues to show his ability to play elite football, for better or worse.

Overall, Inter Miami has seen its “better” share of Suarez so far this season. The Uruguayan player has been the leader during Messi’s recent absence. And because of that, it is Suarez, not Messi, who is the key player of the Florida club up to the present time.

Initial concern

When Suarez arrived, there were big doubts and it’s easy to understand why. The player himself said his knee was seriously damaged. By choosing to participate in a tough league like MLS, the 37-year-old striker faced huge risks.

However, fans can understand why Su Hare did it because this is an opportunity for him to reunite with his closest friends in his career. Messi and Suarez have been brothers for many years, so playing with their soulmates and enjoying everything that Inter Miami has to offer? How can Suarez say no?

However, that is largely an off-field issue. How Suarez performs on the field will determine how his Miami career is evaluated. The Uruguayan legend showed some signs of slowing down at his previous club Gremio, scoring 29 goals in 54 matches for the Brazilian side. But can he do that in MLS? Looking back, it was crazy to doubt such a player, after all this was the Suarez everyone knew!

Bold impression

Suarez scored many goals, provided several assists and most importantly helped Inter Miami survive without Messi in the matches the Argentine missed.

In just 8 MLS games (6 of which were starts), Suarez scored 6 goals and provided 3 assists. The Uruguayan striker contributes a goal every 60 minutes. In addition, the former Barca star also promptly pocketed 2 goals and 2 assists at the CONCACAF Champions Cup, even when Inter Miami was eliminated.

What’s even more impressive is that Suarez shined in the moments when Messi was absent. He scored 3 goals in the matches that M10 missed, helping Inter Miami stay afloat during that period. Of course, the Florida club will be at its best when it has Messi. However, Suarez also plays an important role this season.

Shoot back at the critics

Usually, football players say that they do not pay attention to doubters or critics. And sometimes, they are lying. Stars at that level are acutely aware of what’s going on around them, even when told it isn’t. However, Suarez is not afraid to say it:

“From a personal point of view, I’m happy to be able to help the team. A striker and a professional football player must get used to living with daily criticism. I’m very familiar with that. I’ve been playing professional football for nearly 20 years, so I don’t worry about what people say,” Suarez shared after scoring in a 5-0 victory over Orlando City in March.

The old Suarez is here!

If you think Suarez will soften a bit when he gets older, think again. No, the striker born in 1987 came to Inter Miami and brought with him the same enthusiasm that he showed at Liverpool and Barcelona.

That’s what makes Suarez one of the most polarizing players in a generation, if not the history of the sport. Wherever you go, controversy follows. Some see Suarez as a player with an unparalleled will to win, no matter the cost. Others consider him an unsportsmanlike figure, whose name will be remembered as much for the controversy he created as for the goals he scored.

So far, there have been no real controversies, but there have been a few close calls. Suarez is as scary as ever and also irritable. He has only received two yellow cards this season, surprisingly enough. But Inter Miami will accept any trade-off that comes from Suarez revealing his own bad side.

Dream more

When Suarez arrived at Inter Miami, he set lofty goals: “The best thing we players must have is the dream of winning.”

The 37-year-old striker aims to achieve everything he sets out to do. However, it will not happen. The Herons’ loss to Monterrey in the CONCACAF Champions Cup ensures that the club will not win every trophy this season. However, an MLS Cup championship is still very possible. But a lot will depend on Suarez.

Messi will still be the best player in history whenever he is on the field. When players like Benjamin Cremaschi and Federico Redondo return to full fitness, the midfield will also stabilize itself. But the defense… that’s a completely different story, one that could prove that Inter Miami could be left with nothing this season.

Offensive line will be key

Inter Miami’s defense is clearly terrible, but a great number 9 would make the difference. Leonardo Campana played very well, giving the club a great backup plan for the matches that Suarez missed, but the Uruguayan player is the most dangerous spearhead in history for a reason. On a day when Su Hare plays according to form, the Florida club will not have to worry about goal output.

Messi will certainly continue to gain attention. He is the focus of the media, sells many jerseys and will most likely make the dreams of Inter Miami fans come true this season. However, Suarez could be the destiny of the home club Lockhart Stadium, in many other ways.