Luis Suarez signs contract to return to Inter Miami for a final season in 2026
Luis Suarez signed a contract to return to Inter Miami for one final season, the club announced on Wednesday.
The Uruguayan legend, who turns 39 in January, started 27 of 28 MLS regular-season games this year, scored 10 goals and had 10 assists, but accepted a reduced role for the final four games of the playoffs. He did not get on the field at all during the 3-1 win over the Vancouver Whitecaps in the MLS Cup championship game.
He was replaced by 19-year-old Argentine Mateo Silvetti, and Miami outscored opponents 16-2 during those four games.
Suarez, who made $1.5 million this season, was in the final year of his contract and never addressed whether he planned to retire or seek a new contract. The Miami Herald reported on Tuesday that he was finalizing a deal, and the club confirmed it Wednesday.
Team managing owner Jorge Mas said before the MLS Cup Final that after his storied career, Suarez earned the right to decide whether he wanted to call it quits or continue playing, and that he would be welcome to return, though it would require conversations with the coaching staff about what his role would be.
He scored 17 goals and had 17 assists across all competitions this season. He ranked third on the team in the regular season behind Lionel Messi (29 goals) and Tadeo Allende (11 goals). Suarez was an MLS Golden Boot finalist in 2024 with 20 goals and had nine assists.
But his performance dipped this season, and coach Javier Mascherano decided to make the switch for the Eastern Conference semifinal at Cincinnati after seeing how well the team played without Suarez when he was suspended for Game 3 of the playoff series against Nashville.
Suarez entered the game in the 76th minute against Cincinnati, in the 82nd minute in the Eastern Conference final against New York City FC and never left the bench during the MLS Cup Final.
He handled the benching with class. He did not pout or complain publicly. He continued to train with positive energy, cheered for his teammates and celebrated on the field with them after they won the Cup.
In an interview with the Miami Herald on Dec. 3, Suarez explained how he managed his changing role: “The game against Cincinnati was a tactical decision, and you understand that perfectly. You understand the characteristics the coach needs against certain opponents, and you try to show the most positive attitude you can for the group. Because when someone is in a bad mood or angry, it’s not good for the group. And being one of the bigger players on the team, I can’t do that.
“The [NYCFC] game, for me, was a little different situation. We played at home in a game I would have liked to have played more time because I know I am capable, and I have demonstrated that I can play more than the eight minutes I got to play. But that’s the coach’s decision and I have to accept it with no problem and try to do things better to play more minutes. Also, you have to applaud and see how well the team is playing and when a team is playing so well, with a great dynamic, we have to celebrate that as a group.”
Being relegated to the bench is something new for Suarez, who during his career with Ajax, Liverpool, Barcelona and Atletico Madrid won two European Golden Shoes, an Eredivisie Golden Boot and a Premier League Golden Boot. He ranks fourth for the all-time South American men’s top goalscorers in international soccer (69), trailing only Pele (77), Neymar (79), and Lionel Messi (115). He has also more than 600 goals and 300 assists for club and country.
Mascherano said the decision to drop Suarez from the starting lineup was extremely difficult, and praised him for his maturity and team spirit.
“For me this was not an easy decision, when you have to take out a player like Luis, with his history, with his importance on the team and the club, but I have to say it is admirable how he handled the decision,” Mascherano said at the time.
“We spoke about it during the week. He understood. He helped his teammates. He trained in the best way. He showed what a big player and person he is. Because we know often when these decisions are made, it is hard for players to accept, but he has been a great example for his teammates. This win began with how he dealt with the decision, because it demonstrated our team unity.”
Suarez signed with Inter Miami in December 2023 and was elated to join former FC Barcelona teammates Messi, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba. Messi and Suarez are very close friends. In fact, Messi took Suarez and teammate Rodrigo De Paul with him to India this past weekend for a four-city, three-day GOAT Tour. Messi’s and Suarez’s wives and children are also friends.
Busquets and Alba announced in the fall that they were retiring at the end of the season. The MLS Cup Final was the last game of their careers. Suarez was not ready to hang up his boots just yet. There were rumors he might go back to Uruguay and play a final season for Nacional, where his career began.
But “El Pistolero” (The Gunslinger) plans to be back with Inter Miami for 2026 and continue to battle alongside Messi for one final year.
This story was originally published December 16, 2025 at 12:37 PM.