Luis Suárez reveals what surprised him most about MLS: ‘We had to get used to it’

Nine months into a grueling 2025 season, Inter Miami now stand just three wins away from lifting MLS Cup.

The national championship has been the goal for the past two and a half years, since Lionel Messi arrived in South Florida. With Luis Suárez, Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba and Rodrigo de Paul following Messi to Miami, the Herons have become strong favorites to finally clinch a championship this year.

But it won’t be easy for them. As Miami found out last year, the MLS Cup playoffs can throw up some unexpected results and they now enter the straight knockout phase of the competition, where one single misplaced pass can prove fatal.

The Herons will take on FC Cincinnati in the Eastern Conference semifinal on Sunday. Ahead of the game, Suárez spoke to Sport about his time in Miami and the strength of MLS. The veteran striker was at pains to point out that the league has been a real challenge.

“To be honest, I was a little surprised by all the traveling and so many games, but that’s because we also happened to be in the club’s season when we qualified for the Concacaf Champions League, the League Cup, and the Club World Cup, always reaching the final stages,” he explained.

“The trips are long, at least two hours per flight, but we have had to get used to it. We don’t complain, instead we try to enjoy what is left.”

Will Luis Suárez start for Inter Miami?

Throughout his two seasons in Miami, Luis Suárez has been a guaranteed starter. That status may be under threat now, however, off the back of an impressive team performance in Game 3 of the first round. Suárez was suspended for the all-important final game against Nashville SC and Miami put in one of their most impressive performances of the season, cruising to a 4-0 win with a brace from Tadeo Allende.

With Suárez sidelined, young forward Mateo Silvetti started against Nashville and provided a deft pass to set up Messi for his second goal. The 19-year-old Argentine staked a solid case for a start against Cincinnati.

Mascherano seems unlikely to deviate from Suárez at this late stage in the season. But whatever team he goes with, Suárez is not taking anything for granted in pursuit of the team’s first MLS Cup triumph.

“Sometimes it seems like people underestimate [the MLS], but when it comes to competing, the results are there. It’s not easy to win games; every game is difficult for us,” Suárez said.

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