Luis Suarez

Uruguayan professional footballer, Luis Alberto Suarez Diaz, popularly known as Luis Suarez is one of the greatest stars in the world of football. He plays as a striker for Spanish based football club Barcelona and the Uruguayan national team.

Suárez has earned 16 trophies in his career, including five league titles, a UEFA Champions League title, and a Copa América. A prolific goalscorer with a powerful shot and technical ability, Suárez has won two European Golden Shoes, an Eredivisie Golden Boot, a Premier League Golden Boot.

He ended the six-year dominance of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo by winning La Liga's Pichichi Trophy in 2016.

Named the PFA Players' Player of the Year and the FWA Footballer of the Year in 2014, he also won the Premier League Golden Boot and shared the European Golden Shoe with Cristiano Ronaldo before moving to Barcelona.

He moved to Barcelona in 2014, for a transfer worth €82.3 million (£64.98 million), making him one of the most expensive players in football history.

Early Life of Luis Suarez

Luiz Suarez was born on January 24, 1987, in Salto, Uruguay. He is the son of Sandra Suarez and Rodolfo Suarez. 

He is the fourth of the seven boys born in the Suarez family. His older brother Paolo Suarez is also a professional football player who currently plays as a midfielder/striker for the Salvadoran sports club Isidro Metapan.

He moved to Montevideo at the age of seven alongside his family. His parents separated when he was at the age of nine. He developed his football skills playing on the streets whilst working as a street sweeper.

Suarez is of mixed race. His grandfather was a black man. Luis had faced poverty until he became a professional footballer. Thus, many critics conclude his in-game aggression to have been developed from the contrast in European life and how he grew up.

Suarez's Career

Luis Suarez began his youth career joining at Nacional in the year 2003 at the age of 14. In 2005, he debuted his professional career in Nacional. He appeared in 27 matches from Nacional making 10 goals for the team.

In 2006, he moved to the Dutch team Groningen. He appeared in 29 matches making 10 goals for the team. Seeing the potential in Suarez, Ajax offered the sale of 7.5 million dollars on Luis which Groningen accepted and Luis signed the five-year contract with Ajax in 2007.

Whilst playing at Ajax, he won the title of Ajax Player of the year 2008-2009, 2009-2010, Ajax Top Goal scorer 2008-2009, 2009-2010, Eredivisie Golden Boot 2003-2010, Dutch Footballer of the Year 2009-2010, etc along with the club side winning of Eredivisie 2010-2011, KNVB Cup 2009-2010 and Johan Cruijff Shield 2007.

After the end of the contract with Ajax, he joined Liverpool on five and half year contract. The fame and the controversies came along after he joined the Liverpool. Recently, there is news that Barcelona has offered Luis Suarez 160,000 a week + no bite clause contract for joining Barcelona if Luis agrees.

Luis Suarez is a famous name and one of the greatest players in the football arena. He has highlighted the name of Uruguay from his performance. Luis has got excellent vision and work rate in the game.

He is skilled in shooting, diving, pa s sing and ball control. He has the killer instinct and marking capability to shot the ball into the goal. He has great aerial and technical ability. He has won several of the individual titles and achievements for his performance.

Besides his excellent football skills, he has been dragged into several controversies mostly due to his in-game anger, impatience, and indiscipline.

Suarez has been found guilty of racial abuse against Patrice Evra during the match against Manchester United. He was banned in eight matches and penalty of 40,000 GBP had been made. He has been found guilty in making obscene gestures toward Fulham fans so was banned for a match too.

He has been found guilty in biting Italian player Giorgio Chiellini in 2014 FIFA World Cup which made him suspended for four months and banned from all football-related activities. Along with it, he has been fined the amount of 10,000 Swiss Franc. This is termed as the strictest punishment given by FIFA so far to any player.

Suarez is in the Uruguay National Football Team since 2007 appearing in 78 cap matches with 40 goal scores. He also has the experience of playing in Uruguay under-20 Football Team and Olympic Game Team in the year 2006-2007 and 2012 respectively.

He was included in Uruguay's 23-man final squad for the 2018 World Cup. Suárez scored an equalizer against Brazil in Recife for a 2–2 draw in the qualification process for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

Suarez's Net Worth and Salary

Luis Suarez's net worth is $26 million at present which has been decreased from his previous net worth of $40 million. He earns an annual salary of $15.4 million and earns 4.5 million from endorsements.

He earns a salary of $20 million from Barcelona as per the new contract until 2021 with the club.

Personal Life of Suarez

Luis plays as a striker for Spanish side Barcelona and the Uruguayan national team. He stands at the height of 1.81 m and weight of 81 kg.

Luis is a married man and a proud father of two children. He married his longtime girlfriend Sofía Balbi in 2009. 

He started dating Sofia at the age 15 in Montevideo. The Balbi family moved to Barcelona in 2003, and Suárez's focus on football strengthened as a result as he wanted to follow them to Europe to join Sofía again.

Suarez has two children; a son named Benjamin Suarez and Delfina Suarez. He joined Barcelona, on July 11, 2014, allowing him to live closer with his wife Sofía's family.

He said, "[Liverpool] did all they could to get me to stay, but playing and living in Spain, where my wife's family live, is a lifelong dream and ambition. I believe now the timing is right."

Suarez has a sponsorship deal with German sportswear and equipment supplier Adidas. He alongside other global football stars including Neymar and Thierry Henry starred in a 2014 advertisement for Beats with the theme of "The Game Before the Game."

Suárez has also appeared in advertisements for Abitab, Antel, Cablevisión, Garnier, Pepsi, and Samsung in Uruguay.