Does Luis Suarez want to beat Lionel Messi in MLS Golden Boot battle? Friendly rivalry between 10-goal Inter Miami superstars getting serious

The former Barcelona team-mates, who have been reunited in Florida for 2024, have enjoyed productive starts to the current campaign. Eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi has been at his mercurial best, with six goal contributions posted in his latest outing against the New York Red Bulls.

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Having found the target in that contest, while contributing five assists, Messi is up to 10 MLS goals for the season. That return has been matched by Uruguayan frontman Suarez – who netted a hat-trick against the Red Bulls.

They top the scoring charts at present but, with a long way to go, Suarez has said in the Miami Herald when asked if he is determined to best his legendary colleague and claim a prestigious individual prize: “No, no. It’s not like that. We played together for a long time at Barcelona, and it was always like this, each helping the other. In 2015-16, Leo and Neymar helped me win the Golden Boot. The competition is to see your team-mate happy and work together to win. Note that [against the Red Bulls], Leo broke a league mark with five assists, something that had not been seen before, and that shows what kind of team-mate he is.”

Messi won the Pichini Trophy, as the top scorer in La Liga, on eight occasions during his time at Barcelona – along with six Golden Shoes. Suarez, meanwhile, has previously claimed Golden Boot honours in the Netherlands, England and Spain – with Ajax, Liverpool and Barca.