Who is Luis Suarez? Everything You Need to Know

Quick Facts

Also Known As: Luis Alberto Suárez Díaz

Age: 37 Years, 37 Year Old Males

Family:

Spouse/Ex-: Sofia Balbi (m. 2009)

Football Players Uruguayan Men

Height: 6'0" (183 cm), 6'0" Males

Recommended For You

1

What is the biting incident involving Luis Suarez?

Luis Suarez infamously bit Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini during a World Cup match in 2014, resulting in a lengthy ban.
2

Has Luis Suarez won the UEFA Champions League?

Yes, Luis Suarez won the UEFA Champions League with Barcelona in the 2014-2015 season.
3

Which clubs has Luis Suarez played for in La Liga?

Luis Suarez has played for Barcelona in La Liga, where he had a successful career before transferring to Atletico Madrid.
4

How many goals did Luis Suarez score in the 2015-2016 season?

Luis Suarez scored an impressive 40 goals in La Liga during the 2015-2016 season, helping Barcelona win the league title.
5

What is the nickname given to Luis Suarez?

Luis Suarez is often referred to as "El Pistolero" which translates to "The Gunslinger" in English, due to his goal-scoring prowess.

Recommended Lists:

Uruguayan People

Tall Celebrities

Tall Male Celebrities

Male Sportspersons

Uruguayan Sportspersons

Childhood & Early Life

Luis Alberto Suarez Diaz was born on 24 January 1987 in Salto, Uruguay, to Rodolfo and Sandra Suarez. His father was a porter from a poor mixed background having African ancestors. His family moved to Montevideo for work when Luis was seven years old.

He has seven siblings. His elder brother, Paolo Suarez, is also a professional footballer who played for the National Football League of Guatemala. Their childhood was ridden with poverty and it was difficult to afford even a pair of football boots. However, this did not stop Luis from pursuing the sport which he started playing on the street.

His mother encouraged him by introducing him to Urreta, which was a rich football club in Montevideo. Suarez scored a hat-trick as a substitute in his first friendly match and from there he started rising as a footballer of high promise.

At the age of nine, while playing for Urreta, he was discovered by Wilson Pirez, who was scouting for the Nacional youth team. By the time he was 12, his father walked out on the family and his mother and grandmother had to struggle to bring up the boys. By then, Suarez was working towards a career opening with Nacional.

He was not very bright in academics, nor was he initially keen on becoming a professional footballer. However, his family condition and the requirement to earn something motivated him to take up the sport.

He was in the wrong company as a teen and took to drinking, but things changed when he met Sofia Balbi when he was 15. She was a positive influence on his life and is now his wife.

Continue Reading Below

Recommended Lists:

Aquarius Football Players

Uruguayan Football Players

Career

He played his first professional match for Nacional youth club against Copa Libertadores. Though the match ended in a 3-2 defeat, Suarez netted his first senior level goal with an impressive overhead kick. He went on to play for Nacional 34 times and scored 12 goals for them. He was their main striker who helped them lift the 2005- 2006 Uruguayan League.

He made his international debut in football as a member of the Uruguayan team that reached the knock out stage of the 2007, U20 World Cup, played in Canada. They lost to the USA but it was Argentina that won the tournament. The exposure helped Suarez understand the dynamics of international professional football.

After the U20 World Cup, he got offers from Groningen and Ajax football clubs to play professional football. He joint Groningen for a short while and was subsequently picked up by Ajax for 7.5 million Euros. During his five year contract with Ajax, he scored 111 goals in 159 matches for the club and was recognised as the Dutch Footballer of the Year in the very first season.

He was next hired by Liverpool FC for a whopping 22.8 million Euros and became one of their most expensive players in 2011. His brilliance with the ball helped his team win the Champions League and the ‘Golden Boot’ for himself. He was named PFA Players’ Player of the Year and the FWA Footballer of the Year.

Luis wanted to be closer to his wife so he left Liverpool to join Barcelona FC for 75 million Pounds. He is one of their three main strikers with Messi and Neymar. After he became part of the team they registered their second historic win of the prestigious continental treble consisting of the La Liga, Copa dal Rey and UEFA Champions League.

Suarez played a pivotal role in the fourth position finish of Uruguay in the 2010 FIFA World Cup. He also helped his national team to win a record fifteenth Copa America and was named Player of the Tournament in 2011. He captained the national team at the 2012 Olympic Games where he scored a hat-trick against Chile. The year 2013 saw him as the star player of Uruguay in the Confederation Cup where he scored a crucial goal against Spain in their opening game. At the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, Suarez scored his 40th international goal for his country.

Awards & Achievements

Suarez is still considered one of the best strikers in the world and was the European Top Scorer and winner of the ‘Golden Boot’ award twice in his career. He is the only player since 2009 to win a ‘Golden Boot’ with a Pichihci Trophy in the same year, other than Messi and Ronaldo.

He has the distinction of being in the winning team of the Champions League, Uruguayan League, Dutch League and Spanish League during his career and has received numerous Best Player awards.

Besides being the star striker of his national team, he has played professional football for Nacional (2005-06), Groningen (2006-07), Ajax (2007-11), Liverpool (2010-2014) and Barcelona (2014-2017).

Personal Life & Legacy

His aggression on the field has been attributed to the difficult life he faced while growing up and the type of company he kept till he met the girl he eventually married.

He married his childhood sweetheart, Sofia Balbi, in 2009. They have a son and daughter named Benjamin and Delfina. He has always been very close to his wife who has been his strength and sobering factor.

Facts About Luis Suarez

Luis Suarez has a unique habit of kissing his wrist after scoring a goal, as a tribute to his family members.

Suarez is known for his love of chess and often incorporates strategic elements from the game into his playing style on the field.

Off the field, Suarez is a talented guitarist and enjoys playing music as a way to relax and unwind.

Suarez is a dedicated philanthropist and has been involved in various charitable initiatives to help underprivileged communities in his native Uruguay.

Despite his fierce competitiveness on the field, Suarez is known for his sportsmanship and has been praised for his fair play and respect towards opponents.

Luis Suarez Biography

You wanted to know

What is the biting incident involving Luis Suarez?

Has Luis Suarez won the UEFA Champions League?

Which clubs has Luis Suarez played for in La Liga?

How many goals did Luis Suarez score in the 2015-2016 season?

What is the nickname given to Luis Suarez?