Suarez to face Messi in 2026 World Cup qualifiers

Striker Luis Suarez was called back to the Uruguayan national team to play two 2026 World Cup qualifiers in South America, including the match against Lionel Messi's Argentina on November 17.

* Argentina - Uruguay: 7am Friday November 17, Hanoi time.

Suarez scored 14 goals in 29 matches in the Brazilian National Championship, ranking third in the list of top scorers, behind Francisco Soares of Botafogo with 16 goals and Paulinho of Atletico Mineiro with 17 goals.

Suarez in Gremio's shirt in the Brazilian National Championship this season. Photo: AFP

In the last five matches, the 36-year-old striker has contributed three assists and scored five goals, including a 19-minute hat-trick that helped Gremio come from behind to win 4-3 at Botafogo on November 9. Suarez's good form has helped Gremio's ambitions of competing for the championship this season, as they currently stand third with 59 points, one and two points behind Botafogo and Palmeiras respectively.

This high form also helped Suarez to be in the list of 24 players Uruguay prepare for two 2026 World Cup qualifiers in South America against Argentina in Buenos Aires on November 17 and Bolivia at home five days later. Uruguay is currently second with seven points, equal with Brazil and Venezuela and one point behind world champions Argentina.

"Suarez always scores a lot of goals and can create goals, and he has a great influence," coach Marcelo Bielsa said at a press conference announcing the Uruguay squad on November 13. "One way to raise a player's self-esteem is to call him up at important moments."

Before this call-up, Suarez last played for Uruguay in the final round of the World Cup group stage on December 2, 2022. That day, he assisted a goal in a 2-0 win over Ghana, but Uruguay was still eliminated because of a lower goal difference than South Korea.

Suarez cried after Uruguay was eliminated from the 2022 World Cup. Photo: AFP

The 68-year-old coach also planned to call up veteran striker Edinson Cavani, who plays for Boca Juniors. However, the 36-year-old striker was injured in the last match against Newell's Old Boys and could not join the team. Bielsa called up MX Leon's Federico Vinas instead.

When asked how to stop Messi in the match in Buenos Aires, Bielsa replied: "There is no method or process that is effective enough against Messi, the best player in the world in my opinion. There are games when Messi does not shine but not because of a specific formula."

The match will see Suarez and Messi go head-to-head ahead of a reunion at Inter Miami for the 2024 season. Gremio coach Renato Gaucho has confirmed Suarez will leave the club at the end of the season in December 2023, while coach Gerardo Martino has left open the possibility of signing the Uruguayan striker. According to ESPN , Suarez and Inter Miami have agreed on a one-year contract with a one-year option. The 36-year-old striker only needs to sign the contract to complete the transfer.

Suarez is Messi's best friend and teammate. Together, the two players won four La Liga titles, four Copa del Reys and one Champions League at Barca. Messi holds the record for scoring 672 goals for Barca, while Suarez is third with 198.

Hong Duy

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