MLS
Is Luis Suárez a more important player for Inter Miami than Lionel Messi?
Messi has performed superbly for The Herons when called upon, but injury issues have forced Suárez to become the focal point in attack.
Inter Miami continue to wait patiently for the return to fitness of key man Lionel Messi. The Argentine has been struggling with muscle problems for nearly a month, which have already caused him to miss four games this season. In that time, other players have had to step up to the plate for a team hoping to challenge for multiple trophies, with Luis Suárez in particular standing out.
How do Suárez and Messi’s numbers for Inter Miami compare?
Although Messi has performed superbly when he has been available, his extended absence has diminished his influence on the team in 2024. Suárez, by contrast, has been ever present and taken over as The Herons’ attacking talisman in their strong start to the campaign.
The Uruguayan has scored seven goals and provided five assists in 10 appearances (1.2 G/A per game) in all competitions for the Floridians, with Messi on five goals and two assists in his five matches (1.4 G/A per game). Unlike his teammate, Suárez didn’t hit the ground running in MLS, failing to find the net in his first two outings, but has gone from strength to strength since scoring twice against Orlando City at the start of March.
Martino expected to rotate former Barcelona duo
When Suárez arrived in Miami, there was much talk about his back issues and chronic knee pain. At 37, the Uruguayan is coming towards the end of his career, which means he will certainly be afforded periods of rest at different points of the season, especially one as long as in the United States.
Inter Miami head coach Gerardo “Tata” Martino will have to continue rotating his senior stars, with Messi and Suárez set to be complement and compensate for one another, especially in MLS.
There will be matches and periods in which Messi will play a leading role, although we should also get used to seeing Suárez become the main man in attack at certain points of the season, as has been the case in recent weeks.
While it might be a stretch to say Suárez is more important to Inter Miami than his former Barcelona teammate, especially considering their record without Messi, he may well prove to be as important as the fixtures come thick and fast over the next few months.