Luis Suarez adopts unlikely role as Lionel Messi left furious in MLS season opener

Former Liverpool striker Luis Suarez was the unlikely voice of reason as Lionel Messi was left furious during Inter Miami's 3-0 defeat against LAFC in last weekend's MLS opener

Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez both play for Inter Miami in MLS.(Image: Frederic J. Brown / AFP via Getty Images)

Former Liverpool striker Luis Suarez was the unlikely voice of reason as he attempted to calm Lionel Messi down during the MLS opener against LAFC this weekend.

Suarez and Messi were on the wrong end of a 3-0 defeat, with David Martinez, Denis Bouanga and Nathan Ordaz all scoring. It is the heaviest defeat head coach Javier Mascherano — another Liverpool link — has suffered since losing to Charlotte FC in September.

Messi was furious at the final whistle, with footage emerging from the tunnel of the Inter Miami captain attempting to force his way into the officials' locker room following the match, with Suarez trying to hold him back.

Messi came back out seconds later alongside Suarez before they walked to their side's locker room. The Argentine was unhappy with Inter Miami's third loss in its last four trips to LAFC in all competitions.

Inter Miami will look to get its first win of the campaign against Orlando City on March 1. Messi could open his account for the season in that fixture.

Messi's team is playing a series of away fixtures to begin the season and doesn't have a home game until April 4. That is because of work being done on their new Miami Freedom Park stadium.

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL - MAY 29: Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi (10) enters the stadium with Inter Miami forward Luis Suárez (9) before the game between Atlanta United and Inter Miami CF on Wednesday, May 29, 2024 at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (Photo by Peter Joneleit/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)(Image: Getty)

Since signing from PSG in 2023, Messi has scored 77 goals and provided 44 assists for Inter Miami in 89 appearances. Suarez, meanwhile, has 72 goal contributions in 88 games.

Messi is under contract until 2028, while Suarez penned an extension with the MLS franchise in December. The Uruguayan was tied down for another campaign after netting 17 goals in 2025.

Ex-Liverpool and Barcelona star Suarez initially arrived at Inter Miami ahead of the 2024 season.

He was a key member as the MLS giant had a record-breaking year, clinching its first Supporters’ Shield while securing the MLS single-season points record in the process.

His form was crucial to the success as he led the team in goals with 25 across all competitions; Suarez’s 20 regular-season goals were also the second-most among all players in MLS in 2024 (tied with Messi).

The Inter Miami ace also added nine regular-season assists, as well as a goal and an assist in the play-offs.

He was an ever-present figure leading the team’s attack, playing in 37 matches across all competitions in 2024, including 27 in regular-season play.