Major League Soccer have named Luis Suarez as their Player of the Matchday for the second time this season, just five weeks into the 2024 campaign.
Suarez only joined Inter Miami ahead of this season but has already won the award twice after also scooping up the honours in Matchday Three. MLS makes a point of naming the best player across the league over each round of games, and Suarez has hit the ground running since joining Lionel Messi in the United States.
Amazingly, Messi is yet to win the award twice, meaning that Suarez has already eclipsed his teammate and long-time friend. The Uruguayan striker scored a brace in their recent 3-1 win over DC United, sending them top of the Eastern Conference.
Miami has 13 points from their first five games, winning three and scoring 13 goals across all matches. Suarez is joint-top scorer in MLS with four goals, and is currently level with Georgos Giakoumakis (Atlanta United), and Dejan Joveljic (LA Galaxy).
READ MORE: Luis Suarez scores 'charity game brace' to save Inter Miami as Lionel Messi absence explained
READ MORE: Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez involved in heated row as Inter Miami face worrying problem
Suarez is also tied with Mark Delgado (Galaxy) on three assists as they lead the way in MLS, with the 36-year-old proving his versatility since joining the club. Messi has struggled with minor injuries again this season, missing two games already in the league.
The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner is still only just behind Suarez on three goals though, with one assist. Suarez was always expected to dominate in MLS when cutting short his contract with Brazilian side Gremio to join his former Barcelona teammates in Miami, and could be the difference as they chase their first ever MLS Cup crown.
Suarez has also matched former striker Gonzalo Higuain, who only won Player of the Matchday on two occasions during his time at the club. Former Wolverhampton Wanderers striker Leonardo Campana is currently leading the franchise with three award wins.
Suarez has four goals and three assists in five games, leading the MLS in both categories With Messi, Suarez, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba, Miami boasts one of the most talented squads ever seen in MLS history. They also signed veteran Julian Gressel before the season began, adding some much-needed experience as the United States international has racked up 228 MLS appearances in his career.
Gressel was in awe of Suarez after their latest win, as when DC United took the lead it looked like Miami could be in trouble with Messi absent. "This was a big one," said Gressel. "Short rest, tough week, tough two weeks. Not an easy game, obviously, midweek and then to have to travel on a short rest in this league is not easy.
"And to come here after going down 1-0 as well, and being able to fight back and ultimately play really well, I thought, after the first 15-20 minutes, to come away with the win and get the three points without Leo is something that I think we can take a lot from. There's going to be stretches where there’s guys at national teams, where we play through those moments, where Olympics are coming up, Copa America – those types of things where we know or we've known that we have to rely on the whole squad."
Read more similar news:
Comments:
comments powered by Disqus
