Luis Suarez playing through pain without Lionel Messi – Inter Miami striker putting body on the line as Uruguayan makes ‘discomfort’ admission

The former Liverpool and Barcelona striker has been doing that for some time, with long-standing knee problems causing him “discomfort”. The decision was taken to delay any retirement plans in order to spend another season alongside Messi in Florida.

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Suarez is having to carry goalscoring responsibility as Messi works his way back from an ankle injury picked up in the Copa America final. The 37-year-old was on target again in Inter Miami’s Leagues Cup opener against Puebla, taking him to 15 efforts for the season through 23 appearances.

Suarez is prepared to put his body on the line for the good of the collective cause, telling reporters: “I always want to play, whether I have pain or I don’t have pain. Last year I suffered a lot at Gremio. This week I had some discomfort, but my body asked me to play because the club needed me and I wanted to be here. I gave maximum effort, I was happy to help the team. Some goals you enjoy a little less because your team-mates make it so easy for you to score, but they are goals all the same and I am coming off a difficult week, so it felt good to score.”

No timescale has been put on Messi’s return to the field, with the Argentine superstar already ruled out of the MLS All-Star Game – alongside Suarez. He may not figure in the defence of a Leagues Cup crown, with Inter Miami not due back in MLS action until August 24.