Luis Suárez

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Suárez began his senior club career at Uruguayan club Nacional in 2005. He signed with Groningen the following year before transferring to Ajax in 2007. There, he won the Eredivisie title and KNVB Cup. In 2011, Suárez signed with Premier League club Liverpool, and won the League Cup in his first full season. In 2013–14, his final season with the club, he equalled the goalscoring record of 31 goals for a 38-game Premier League season. That summer, Barcelona signed Suárez for a fee of €75 million. At Barcelona, Suárez was part of a dominant attacking trio dubbed MSN, alongside Lionel Messi and Neymar. He won the treble in his first season and was the most prolific player in Europe in his second season, scoring 59 goals in 53 matches as Barcelona won the double. In 2020, he signed with Atlético Madrid, where he helped Atlético win La Liga in his debut season. Suárez returned to Nacional in 2022 before relocating to Brazilian club Grêmio in the following year, where he was awarded the best player in Série A. In 2024, he joined Inter Miami.

In Their Own Story

At the international level, Suárez is Uruguay's all-time leading goalscorer and formerly the highest goalscorer in CONMEBOL FIFA World Cup qualifiers before being surpassed by Messi. He has represented his nation at four editions of the FIFA World Cup and five editions of the Copa América, as well as the 2012 Summer Olympics and the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup. He was named to the 2010 World Cup All-Star Team and won the 2011 Copa América, where he was awarded Best Player. Suárez has been the subject of many career controversies, including a goal-line handball clearance against Ghana at the 2010 FIFA World Cup, biting opponents on three occasions, accusations of diving, racist incidents, and spitting incidents.

Reader's Guide

Suárez lived his early years at the Cerro neighbourhood in Salto, where he played youth football at Sportivo Artigas. At age seven, he moved with his family (parents and six brothers) to Montevideo, where he played youth football at Urreta. When he was a child, a car ran over his foot, breaking the fifth metatarsal bone. In spite of the injuries, he continued to play. Suárez joined local side Nacional's youth team at age 14. At age 16, Suárez headbutted a referee after showing his discontent following a red card, although a sports editor claimed he "accidentally fell into the referee". One night, he was caught drinking and partying, prompting his coach to threaten he would never play unless he started playing football more seriously. In May 2005, at age 18, Suárez made his first-team debut against Atlético Junior in the Copa Libertadores. He scored his first goal in September 2005 and helped Nacional win the 2005–06 Uruguayan league with 10 goals in 27 matches.

Did You Know?

• Suárez is Uruguay's all-time leading goalscorer.
• He was the first player ever to simultaneously lead La Liga in goals and assists.
• He scored 59 goals in 53 matches in his second season at Barcelona.
• Suárez equalled the goalscoring record of 31 goals for a 38-game Premier League season in 2013–14.