Fans believe that one Inter Miami player is holding Lionel Messi and co. back after their FIFA Club World Cup match against Portuguese heavyweights Porto. The David Beckham-owned MLS team recovered from a dismal 0-0 stalemate in their first game against Al Ahly to come from behind for an important victory on Thursday night.
Messi got on the scoresheet, putting Miami ahead shortly before the hour mark with a spectacular free kick. And, while the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner helped his team improve its chances of qualifying from their group, supporters have lambasted one player they believe will continue to be a liability to the squad in the long run.
Fans Claim Luis Suarez is Holding Messi and Inter Miami Back
The veteran’s deterioration has been a heartbreaking watch
Despite the fact that Javier Mascherano’s team won, many took to social media during the game to argue that Luis Suarez was still holding Messi and Miami back as the striker struggled physically in the final stages of his career.
Suarez, regarded as one of the greatest finishers of all time, was one of several ex-Barcelona players to join Messi in America, with Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba. However, the 38-year-old has suffered physically since his arrival, with recurring knee ailments limiting his progress.
While his statistics previous to the game against Porto were excellent (33 goals and 21 assists in 59 games), there has been a noticeable drop in the forward’s sharpness and ability to impose himself on issues at the Club World Cup. He had previously been chastised for his poor performance in the draw against Al-Ahly, and he did little to calm his detractors against Porto.
Suarez had only one shot on goal in Thursday night’s triumph, which was also considered a significant missed opportunity. He was only 76% accurate on his passes and lost possession 11 times. However, he won 11 out of 16 duels.
However, the Uruguayan’s physical troubles lingered, as he appeared to be straining to walk around the pitch at times, prompting supporters to comment on his alleged decline and its affect on Messi on social media.
“Luis Suarez is the worst thing that ever happened to Messi,” claimed one fan, while another stated, “He’s fed up with Suarez and his antics at this point.”
A third said, “Messi is trying to get Suarez to score in big 2025,” while a fourth said, “Luis Suarez is squandering an opportunity that Messi has set up for him.” “Just like old times.”
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