Inter Miami forced to face Leagues Cup without Luis Suárez
Even as Inter Miami’s most impactful player in recent weeks, Luis Suárez is sidelined for the Leagues Cup due to a multi-game ban.
MLS and Liga MX are pausing their regular seasons to make way for the Leagues Cup, a tournament that will always hold special meaning for Lionel Messi and Inter Miami. It was the very first trophy the Argentine star lifted after arriving at the club, marking the first piece of silverware in Herons history.
Alongside Messi, club legends Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba also captured the 2023 Leagues Cup just days after joining. Though both have since retired, the roster now features heavyweights like Rodrigo De Paul, Casemiro, and Luis Suárez.
However, the Uruguayan striker will miss the entire competition due to suspension, interrupting a stellar run of form for Inter Miami both before and after the 2026 World Cup.
When Messi is absent, Suárez steps up
At least that has been the formula whenever the Herons’ captain was sidelined by injury or away at the World Cup. However, memory serves that in the previous edition of the Leagues Cup, Inter Miami fell 3-0 to the Seattle Sounders in the final. During that match, “El Pistolero” was sent off and handed a six-game tournament suspension, which he will begin serving now.
Following the final whistle, Luis Suárez was involved in a post-game scuffle in which he spat at a member of the Sounders’ coaching staff, triggering the disciplinary action. “In accordance with Article 4.2.C of the 2025 Leagues Cup Competition Regulations, the Disciplinary Committee has imposed a six-game suspension on Suárez. Consequently, he will be ineligible to participate in at least the next edition of the Leagues Cup until the full penalty is served,” the official tournament statement read at the time.
Inter Miami loses its leading goalscorer. While Messi returns, Suárez enters this stretch having scored 7 goals in his last four matches for the Herons, serving as the focal point of the attack. Head coach Guillermo Hoyos will now have to shuffle his lineup to navigate a Leagues Cup campaign without him. This time, the mantra flips: When Suárez is absent, Messi steps up.
Get closer to the game! Whether you like your soccer of the European variety or that on this side of the pond, our AS USA app has it all. Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more. Plus, stay updated on NFL, NBA and all other big sports stories as well as the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.
And there’s more: check out our TikTok and Instagram reels for bite-sized visual takes on all the biggest soccer news and insights.