Leagues Cup

No Messi, no problem, as Suárez shines

With Lionel Messi sidelined, Luis Suárez stepped up with a vintage performance against Pumas in Fort Lauderdale.

Sam Navarro

Estados Unidos Update: Aug 7th, 2025 01:37 EDT

Luis Suárez stole the show in Fort Lauderdale, stepping up in Lionel Messi’s absence to lead Inter Miami into the Leagues Cup 2025 quarterfinals.

The veteran Uruguayan striker was the undisputed star of the match against Pumas UNAM, taking center stage after the team captain was ruled out through injury. Wearing the No. 9 shirt, Suárez took charge and guided Javier Mascherano’s side past the Liga MX visitors in the final round of the tournament’s first stage.

Despite the final result favoring the Florida side, things didn’t start smoothly. In the 34th minute, Jorge Ruvalcaba opened the scoring for the Mexican team. New signing Pedro Vite – already making a strong impression – provided the assist, lofting a brilliant pass over the Miami backline for Ruvalcaba to finish.

Fortunately for the hosts, the equalizer came right before halftime. In the 45th minute, Rodrigo De Paul – making only his second appearance for Inter Miami – scored his first goal on North American soil, calmly slotting home after a pinpoint cross from Suárez found him in the box.

Smart choice analyst Luis Suárez and Inter Miami punch their ticket to the knockouts with a 3-1 win vs Pumas#LeaguesCup2025 Wrap up live now: https://t.co/tpcR4fo2em pic.twitter.com/WGoZ8Z9W8N
— MLS on Air (@MLSonAir) August 7, 2025

Suárez shines in Miami

Early in the second half, Suárez found the net and celebrated with a sombrero – only for the goal to be disallowed for offside. Moments later, he picked up a yellow card, a frustrating start to the second half.

But the former Barça man kept pushing. In the 59th minute, Suárez earned a penalty and coolly converted it with a cheeky Panenka, beating Pumas goalkeeper Miguel Paul and restoring Miami’s lead. This time, the sombrero celebration stood – and the home crowd roared.

To cap off a standout performance, Suárez turned provider once again. In the 69th minute, he set up Tadeo Allende, who had wasted a few chances earlier but made no mistake this time. The Celta de Vigo loanee sliced through the Pumas defense and fired home past the advancing keeper for Inter Miami’s third.

34 Rocco Ríos Novo
2 Gonzalo Luján
37 Maximiliano Falcón
57 Marcelo Weigandt (45')
18 Alba
5 Busquets
7 De Paul (88')
42 Yannick Bright
8 Telasco Segovia (75')
21 Tadeo Allende (75')
9 Luis Suárez (82')
Substitutes
17 Ian Fray (45')
15 Ryan Sailor
14 Patrice Picault (75')
32 Noah Allen (75')
55 Federico Redondo (88')
11 Baltasar Rodríguez
25 Yarbrough
41 David Ruíz
30 Benjamín Cremaschi (82')
6 Tomás Avilés
81 Santiago Morales

181 Miguel Paul
77 Álvaro Angulo (87')
2 Pablo Bennevendo (65')
6 Nathan
5 Rubén Duarte
7 Rodrigo López (45')
45 Pedro Vite (87')
17 Jorge Ruvalcaba
8 José Caicedo (71')
28 Adalberto Carrasquilla
9 Guillermo Martinez
Substitutes
215 Angel Azuaje (87')
258 Emiliano Villaseñor (87')
35 Pablo Lara
13 Pablo Monroy (65')
26 Ángel Rico (71')
20 Santiago Trigos
256 Rodrigo Parra
206 Misael Torres
27 Piero Quispe (45')
15 Ulises Rivas

Substitutions

Ian Fray (45', Marcelo Weigandt), Piero Quispe (45', Rodrigo López), Pablo Monroy (65', Pablo Bennevendo), Ángel Rico (71', José Caicedo), Fafà Picault (75', Tadeo Allende), Noah Allen (75', Telasco Segovia), Benjamín Cremaschi (82', Luis Suárez), Emiliano Villaseñor (87', Pedro Vite), Angel Azuaje (87', Álvaro Angulo), Federico Redondo (88', Rodrigo De Paul)

Goals

0-1, 33': Jorge Ruvalcaba, 1-1, 44': De Paul, 2-1, 58': Luis Suárez, 3-1, 68': Tadeo Allende

Cards

Referee: Ismael Cornejo
VAR Referee: Tatiana Guzman, Tristley Bassue
Álvaro Angulo (17',Yellow), Luis Suárez (50',Yellow), Nathan (50',Yellow)

Table