Maybe age IS just a number: Suárez' recent form is proving doubters' wrong | OneFootball

El Pistolero blasting away since return to Herons' lineup

Luis Suárez has scored 8 goals in nine matches since interim coach Guillermo Hoyos returned him to Inter Miami's starting lineup in April; six of those scores have come in the past three matches, earning El Pistolero three straight Major League Soccer Team of the Match Day nods and a Player of the Match Day Award after Wednesday's 3-2 home win against the Chicago Fire. His penalty kick was the difference in a 1-0 win Saturday at Montréal, and Suárez bagged a hat trick in a wild 6-4 win against Philadelphia in the Herons' last match before the World Cup break.

Not bad for a 39-year-old with bad knees.

Suárez joined Inter Miami before the 2024 season, reuniting with Barcelona teammates Jordi Alba, Sergio Busquets and Lionel Messi. He contributed 20 goals and 9 assists in league play, helping the Herons earn the Supporters' Shield with an MLS record 74 points; he finished with 25 goals and 12 assists in 37 appearances across all competitions and played 2,803 minutes.

In 2025, Suárez wasn't as productive, although he managed 17 goals and 17 assists and played more than 4,000 minutes in 50 appearances for the Herons. Inter Miami played a record 58 matches last year in five competitions: the MLS regular season, CONCACAF Champions Cup, Leagues Cup, FIFA Club World Cup and the MLS Cup playoffs; they won their first MLS Cup title and lost to Seattle in the Leagues Cup final.

The dip in form -- and the dramatically more dynamic attack unleashed when former coach Javier Mascherano was forced to start youngster Mateo Silvetti while Suárez served a three-match suspension late in the season -- convinced some supporters the Uruguayan icon belonged on the bench, that he would be more effective as a late substitute.

That seemed to be Mascherano's plan; Suárez started just once in the Herons' first nine matches this year, in a scoreless draw at Charlotte on March 14. When Mascherano and his staff suddenly resigned after a 2-2 draw against the New York Red Bulls, Suárez had appeared in six of Inter Miami's nine matches and scored just one goal in 143 minutes played.

Luis Suárez hugs Germán Berterame after a score against Toronto FC. From left, Gonzalo Luján, Yannick Bright and Lionel Messi join the celebration. | Eston Parker/ISI Photos/GettyImages

The Herons acquired rising star Germán Berterame, 27, from Liga MX side Monterrey in the offseason, paying the Mexican team a $15 million transfer fee and giving the Argentine-born Mexican citizen the team's third designated player roster spot and a contract with guaranteed annual compensation of $3.8 million. The striker provided an immediate defensive upgrade over Suárez, pressing tirelessly to force turnovers, but he struggled offensively, missing chance after chance, many of them at point blank range.

In his third match leading the Herons, April 25 at home against the New England Revolution, Hoyos decided to start the strikers together; the combination has been a revelation. Berterame, who had just 2 goals and 2 assists in his first nine appearances has contributed 5 scores and 2 assists in eight matches starting beside Suárez.

The World Cup break couldn't disrupt the duo's rhythm, but injury and disciplinary action will. Berterame suffered injuries to his shoulder and nose after an aerial collision going for a header against Montréal and no timeline for his recovery has been announced; Suárez will begin serving a six-game Leagues Cup suspension for his behavior after the championship last year that also resulted in the three-match MLS suspension, which has been served.

Inter Miami will host the Columbus Crew on Saturday and three Leagues Cup group stage matches, against Atlético San Luis on Aug. 5, Monterrey on Aug. 8, and Club León on Aug. 12.