Playing alongside Lionel Messi often means that you need to settle for being second-best but Luis Suarez is a superstar in his own right.
Messi was recently awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by Joe Biden, an honour that very few can boast.
While Messi often earns the praise of his former teammates and fellow professionals, including Cole Palmer who called Messi “the best”, Suarez also left his mark on those he played with.
Former Liverpool star and current manager of the Saudi side Al-Ettifaq, Steven Gerrard expressed what made Suarez so “different.”
- Read more: Get to know Luis Suarez, the iconic Inter Miami star who has been no stranger to controversy
Gerrard full of praise for Suarez
Inter Miami are short of strikers this season following the departure of Leo Campana who joined the New England Revolution.
However, the club were boosted when Suarez signed a new contract to stay with the Herons.
The Uruguayan joined Inter Miami from Brazilian side Gremio and has made an instant impact since arriving in the MLS.
Suarez has had a major impact in every nation he has played in, including the Premier League where he shone with Liverpool for three seasons. He scored an impressive 69 goals in his 110 league appearances with the club.
Speaking three years ago Gerrard was asked who the best player he played with at Liverpool was, his answer was pretty clear: “I’d say, Suarez, he had everything. I played with some top players your Alonso’s [Xavi Alonso], Mascherano [Javier Mascherano] Torress’ [Fernando Torress] but Suarez was just different.”
Gerrard highlighted how the team felt invincible with Suarez in the team as they always believed he could win them a game.
He continued: “No matter who you were playing you just felt like he was going to win you the game, every game it didn’t matter who it was. He almost trained the way he played and he could embarrass you, even with stuff I don’t think he even knew he was doing.”
The numbers behind Suarez’s successful career
Although Suarez narrowly missed out on winning the best MLS Newcomer his instant impact at Inter Miami cannot be understated.
He was the club’s joint topscorer with 20 goals in the MLS regular season and he also added nine assists in just 27 games.
His goalscoring exploits helped the side secure the Supporters Shield and Suarez wasn’t shy in the playoff defeat to Atlanta United, ask Brad Guzan.
While Suarez has shown his quality in the MLS his goalscoring exploits have followed him wherever his career has gone.
| Luis Suarez | Appearances | Goals |
| Dutch Eredevise | 166 | 101 |
| English Premier League | 110 | 69 |
| Spanish La Liga | 258 | 179 |
| Uruguayan First Division | 14 | 8 |
| Brazilian Serie A | 45 | 24 |
| MLS | 27 | 20 |
| Total | 620 | 401 |
The numbers behind Suarez’s career are mind-blowing and Inter Miami fans will certainly be happy to see him take the field once more.
Inter Miami face a tough opening-day test against New York City FC, a side that has a strong record against the Herons so they will need the Uruguayan on top form.