Suarez to get minutes for Miami against Charlotte, confirms Mascherano

Inter Miami head coach Javier Mascherano confirmed that Luis Suarez "will surely get minutes" in their upcoming matches.

Suarez has featured just once in MLS this season, coming off the bench for a late cameo during Miami's opening game defeat to Los Angeles FC.

The 39-year-old was impressive for the Herons last year, scoring 10 goals and providing 11 assists as they went on to win the MLS Cup.

Suarez was just one of six players to register 10+ goals and 10+ assists in the league last term, while team-mate Lionel Messi was the only player to reach 20+ in both categories (35 goals, 23 assists).

Since Suarez joined Miami in 2024, only Messi (93), Denis Bouanga (66) and Evander (62) have directly contributed to more goals than the Uruguayan (51 – 31 goals and 20 assists).

The former Liverpool and Barcelona striker was an unused substitute in Miami's goalless draw against Nashville SC in the Concacaf Champions Cup on Wednesday.

However, Mascherano has confirmed Suarez will be back on the pitch in their upcoming matches, starting with a trip to Charlotte FC on Saturday.

"Yes, he's fine. He's training normally, and yes, he's available to play," Mascherano said of Suarez after the Nashville game.

"Due to various circumstances [on Wednesday], we felt he shouldn't go in. But it's not like he has any discomfort or anything like that.

"He's already 100% recovered and will surely get minutes in the upcoming games."

Miami are currently third in the Eastern Conference, following up that defeat to LAFC with wins over Orlando City (4-2) and D.C. United (2-1).

Their upcoming opponents, Charlotte, meanwhile, have four points to their name after three games in 2026, sitting fourth in the East.

Charlotte's first win came last time out against 10-man Austin FC, as Pep Biel starred in a 3-1 victory.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Charlotte FC – Pep Biel

Biel scored two of Charlotte's three goals against Austin and now has 15 goals and 15 assists in his MLS career.

Biel is the second player in Charlotte history to record 30 regular-season goal contributions after Karol Swiderski (40 – 28 goals, 12 assists).

Inter Miami – Lionel Messi

Messi has been directly involved in at least one goal in 11 of his last 12 MLS appearances (including playoffs), totalling 26 goal contributions in those games (14 goals, 12 assists).

Since returning from the Club World Cup last July, Messi has 46 goal contributions in 24 MLS matches (including playoffs).