After years of starring together at Barcelona, Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi are now in the final stages of their professional careers with Inter Miami. While both remain focused on competing at the highest level, they’re also beginning to think about retirement—a topic the Uruguayan striker addressed.
“We’re both getting older, and each of us will make the decision that’s right for them,” Suarez said during a press conference Tuesday in Miami. “In my case, I won’t make a decision now, but I would love to retire with him.”
Luis went on to reveal that retirement is something he and Messi have discussed over the years—possibly even planning it. “We’ve spent years talking about retiring together, and it could happen. It’s a possibility,” said the 38-year-old center-forward.
However, Suarez made it clear that in order to make their shared dream a reality, certain conditions need to be met—some of which are out of their hands. “It depends on my renewal and his, and each of us will make the right decision at the right time,” Luis said.
Luis Suarez celebrates with Lionel Messi after scoring Barcelona’s first goal during the UEFA Champions League match against Borussia Dortmund on November 27, 2019.
The contracts of Messi and Suarez at Inter Miami
Throughout the year, the contract status of Inter Miami’s biggest stars has been a key issue for the club. Jordi Alba was the first to agree to an extension, adding two more years to a deal that was set to expire at the end of the current season.
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However, the future remains uncertain for fellow former Barcelona stars Sergio Busquets, Lionel Messi, and Luis Suarez, who are all set to become free agents on January 1 unless they reach new deals with the Herons.
As for his personal situation, Suarez was clear during Tuesday’s press conference. “I’m happy. I feel good physically, and I feel like I’m helping the team. If the club wants it, there won’t be any problem,” Luis said, indicating his desire to stay. “We’re on the same page—we want Inter to keep growing as a club, to be attractive to good players, and for the league to keep growing as well.”
The Messi–Suarez partnership by the numbers
Luis Suarez ranks as the ninth most frequent teammate of Messi’s career, trailing only stars like Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba, Javier Mascherano, Andres Iniesta, and Xavi Hernandez. The two played together at Barcelona from 2014 to 2020, and have been teammates at Inter Miami since 2024.
In total, Messi and Suarez have played 311 matches together across all official competitions. They have directly combined for 120 goals—meaning one assisted the other—making them one of the most prolific attacking duos in the history of soccer.
