Luis Suárez (footballer, born 1997)
|
Suárez playing for Colombia in 2022 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Luis Javier Suárez Charris[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 2 December 1997 | ||
| Place of birth | Santa Marta, Colombia | ||
| Height | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)[2] | ||
| Position | Forward | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Sporting CP | ||
| Number | 97 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Leones | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2015–2017 | Leones | 8 | (0) |
| 2016–2017 | → Granada B (loan) | 35 | (5) |
| 2017–2020 | Watford | 0 | (0) |
| 2017–2018 | → Valladolid B (loan) | 34 | (11) |
| 2018–2019 | → Gimnàstic (loan) | 36 | (7) |
| 2019–2020 | → Zaragoza (loan) | 38 | (19) |
| 2020–2022 | Granada | 64 | (13) |
| 2022–2023 | Marseille | 7 | (3) |
| 2023 | → Almería (loan) | 21 | (4) |
| 2023–2025 | Almería | 56 | (33) |
| 2025– | Sporting CP | 25 | (24) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2020– | Colombia | 8 | (4) |
|
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 22 March 2026 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals as of 18 November 2025 (UTC) | |||
Luis Javier Suárez Charris (born 2 December 1997) is a Colombian professional footballer who plays as a forward for Primeira Liga club Sporting CP and the Colombia national team.
After beginning his career in Colombia with Leones, he moved to Spain with Granada B in 2016, followed by loans at Valladolid B in 2017, Gimnàstic in 2018, and Zaragoza in 2019. In 2020, he signed for Granada, before joining Marseille in 2022. He later moved to Almería in 2023, a deal made permanent after the club secured La Liga safety. He finished as the Segunda División top scorer in 2025, before transferring to Sporting CP later that year.
Suárez made his senior debut for the Colombia in 2020 in a World Cup qualifier against Uruguay.
Club career
Early career
Born in Santa Marta, Suárez made his senior debut with Leones on 5 October 2015, coming on as a second-half substitute in a 1–3 Categoría Primera B away loss against América de Cali. The following 1 March, after eight first-team appearances, he was loaned to Granada CF until 2017 with a buyout clause, and was assigned to the reserves in Segunda División B.[3]
On 17 July 2017, after having his federative rights assigned to Watford, Suárez was loaned to Real Valladolid B in the third division for a year.[4] The following 9 July, after scoring 11 goals, he joined Segunda División side Gimnàstic de Tarragona also in a temporary deal.[5]
Suárez made his professional debut on 20 August 2018, replacing Tete Morente late into a 1–1 home draw against Tenerife.[6] He scored his first goal on 7 October, netting the equalizer in a 1–1 draw at Cádiz.
On 21 June 2019, Suárez was loaned to Real Zaragoza, still in the Spanish second division.[7] He ended the regular season with 19 goals, being the team's top goalscorer, but was not allowed to play in the play-offs as his loan ended.[8]
Granada
Suárez signed for Granada CF on a 5-year contract ahead of the 2020–21 La Liga season, making his first sustained appearances in Spanish top‑flight and European competition.[9]
2020–21 season
He scored in Granada’s 2–1 victory against Omonia Nicosia in the UEFA Europa League group stage, giving Granada the lead early in the match at the Estadio Nuevo Los Cármenes on 26 November 2020.[10] Prior to that, he had also helped Granada to stretch their unbeaten run in the competition with a goal in a 2–0 away win against Omonia in Cyprus earlier in the group phase.[11]
In domestic league action, Suárez played regularly across the season and contributed offensively. He opened the scoring for Granada in a 2–0 home win against CA Osasuna in January 2021, striking early in the match to give his side the advantage.[12] Granada finished the season in the middle of the league table, consolidating their status following the previous season’s European qualification.
2021–22 season
In the 2021–22 season, Suárez continued to be a first‑team figure for Granada. He scored the opening goal in a 1–1 draw against Valencia on 21 August 2021, giving Granada an early lead before the hosts levelled the match later in the game.[13] Across the campaign, he remained one of Granada’s regular attacking players, contributing goals and minutes in La Liga as the team battled to maintain top‑flight status.[14][15]
Despite individual contributions, Granada struggled for consistency throughout the season and were ultimately relegated after finishing 18th in La Liga.[16]
Marseille
On 18 July 2022, Suárez signed for French club Olympique de Marseille ahead of the 2022–23 Ligue 1 season.[17]
Suárez made his debut on 7 August 2022 in the opening match of the Ligue 1 campaign against Reims at the Stade Vélodrome. He scored twice in the 4–1 victory to secure the win for Marseille.[18][19]
Despite his bright start, Suárez’s playing time became limited as the 2022–23 Ligue 1 season progressed, and he scored only three goals in domestic competition — including a debut brace against Reims and a goal against Angers — before departing Marseille on loan to Almería in the winter transfer window.[20][21][22]
Almería
Suárez joined UD Almería on loan from Marseille in December 2022, with an obligatory purchase clause if the club avoided relegation from La Liga.[23]
2022–23 season (loan)
He made his competitive debut in a league match against Real Sociedad in January 2023.[24]
On 26 April, Suárez scored the first goal in a 2–1 away win against Getafe, giving Almería the lead early in the match.[25] He added a second goal in the 58th minute to secure the victory.[26] Almería finished the season in 17th place, avoiding relegation and activating the purchase clause for Suárez.[27]
2023–24 season
Suárez scored his first goal of the season on 26 September 2023, converting a penalty in a 5–1 away defeat to Sevilla in La Liga.[28]
On 1 October, he scored the opening goal in a 3–3 home draw against his ex-team Granada in La Liga.[29] He scored again four minutes later to make it 2–0, and completed a first-half hat-trick one minute after that to put Almería 3–0 up at halftime.[30] Suárez suffered a partial fibula fracture during the match and was sidelined for several months.[31] Almería finished the season in the relegation zone and were relegated to the Segunda División.
2024–25 season
In the Segunda División, Suárez scored the opening goal on 18 December 2024 in a 4–1 away win against Racing de Ferrol, giving Almería the lead.[32] He added a second goal from a penalty later in the match to make it 2–1, and scored again in the 83rd minute to complete a hat-trick.[33]
On 23 October, Suárez scored the opener in a 3–3 draw against Granada.[34] He scored again in the 44th minute to make it 2–0, and completed his first-half hat-trick one minute later to put Almería 3–0 at halftime.[35]
In the Copa del Rey, Suárez scored a hat-trick on 4 January in a 4–1 victory over Sevilla.[36]
Suárez scored the opener on 15 January 2025 in a 2–3 Copa del Rey loss to Leganés.[37]
On 4 March 2025, he scored from a penalty in the 42nd minute to open the scoring in a 2–1 home win over Racing de Ferrol and added a second goal in the 51st minute to seal the victory.[38]
Across all competitions, Suárez scored 31 goals for Almería, including 27 league goals, which made him the top scorer of the Segunda División season and earned him Pichichi Trophy.[39] At the end of the 2024–25 season, Suárez transferred to Sporting CP in July 2025.[40][41]
Sporting CP
On 28 July 2025, Primeira Liga side Sporting CP announced the signing of Suárez until 2030, for a reported transfer fee of €25 million including add-ons.[42]
2025–26 season
A month later, on 17 August, he scored his first goals by netting a brace in a 6–0 win over Arouca.[43] Later that year, on 1 October, he netted his first UEFA Champions League goal by converting a penalty in a 2–1 away defeat to Napoli.[44] On January 20th, Suarez netted both goals in a surprise 2–1 victory over Paris Saint-Germain.
International career
On 12 November 2020, Suárez debuted for the Colombian senior team against Uruguay.[45] Portuguese football manager Carlos Queiroz was the national coach of Colombia when Suárez was named to represent the national team and accepted the invitation, although he was also becoming eligible to represent the Spain national football team as well.[46] On 9 September 2025 against Venezuela he scored four goals (42', 50', 59', 67') in a World Cup Qualifier in Estadio Monumental de Maturín in the city of Maturín, Monagas in Venezuela.[47]
Style of play
Known for his explosive pace, direct attacking style and powerful finishing, Suárez operates primarily as a center-forward but can shift to wide positions, especially on the left, where he cuts in using his dominant right foot. These characteristics and player traits are not detrimental to make him being regarded as a player with the ability to score goals with his strong left foot as well.[48] His game relies on rapid acceleration, strong physical presence, and clever movement inside the box. Suárez excels in counterattacks and transitional phases, making him a constant threat when his team regains possession. With high intensity on and off the ball, he contributes not only with goals but also with assists and pressing duties.[3][49]
Personal life
Suárez holds Spanish passport in addition to his Colombian citizenship and therefore is a citizen of the European Union.[50] He has a tattoo on his left arm depicting a lion, describing an identification with the animal "because of its personality and character, and the tenacity with which it protects its pack".[51]
Luis Suárez faced a domestic violence accusation in court. The Colombian forward was detained on December 11, 2024, after his ex-wife filed a complaint for physical and psychological abuse. The alleged victim highlighted several episodes of physical, psychological, and social violence that reportedly occurred in Granada and Marseille between 2020 and 2023, accusations that the player always denied. Suárez's request to visit their shared son, after the couple had been separated for about a year, triggered the complaint of his ex-wife. The case went to the domestic violence court in Granada where an agreement was ultimately reached between the parties.[52][53]
Career statistics
Club
- As of match played 22 March 2026[54]
| Club | Season | League | National cup[a] | League cup[b] | Continental | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Leones | 2015 | Categoría Primera B | 8 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 8 | 0 | ||||
| Granada B (loan) | 2016–17 | Segunda División B | 35 | 5 | — | — | — | — | 35 | 5 | ||||
| Watford | 2017–18 | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | ||
| Valladolid B (loan) | 2017–18 | Segunda División B | 34 | 11 | — | — | — | — | 34 | 11 | ||||
| Gimnàstic (loan) | 2018–19 | Segunda División | 36 | 7 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 37 | 7 | |||
| Zaragoza (loan) | 2019–20 | Segunda División | 38 | 19 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 39 | 19 | |||
| Granada | 2020–21 | La Liga | 27 | 5 | 2 | 0 | — | 8[c] | 2 | — | 37 | 7 | ||
| 2021–22 | La Liga | 37 | 8 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 38 | 8 | ||||
| Total | 64 | 13 | 3 | 0 | — | 8 | 2 | — | 75 | 15 | ||||
| Marseille | 2022–23 | Ligue 1 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 0 | — | 4[d] | 0 | — | 11 | 3 | ||
| Almería (loan) | 2022–23 | La Liga | 21 | 4 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | 21 | 4 | |||
| Almería | 2023–24 | La Liga | 15 | 6 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | 15 | 6 | |||
| 2024–25 | Segunda División | 41 | 27 | 2 | 4 | — | — | — | 43 | 31 | ||||
| Almería total | 77 | 37 | 2 | 4 | — | — | — | 79 | 41 | |||||
| Sporting CP | 2025–26 | Primeira Liga | 25 | 24 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 10[d] | 5 | 1[e] | 0 | 42 | 33 |
| Career total | 324 | 119 | 12 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 22 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 360 | 134 | ||
- ^ Includes Copa del Rey, Taça de Portugal
- ^ Includes Taça da Liga
- ^ Appearances in UEFA Europa League
- ^ a b Appearances in UEFA Champions League
- ^ Appearance in Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira
International
- As of match played 18 November 2025[55]
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colombia | 2020 | 1 | 0 |
| 2022 | 3 | 0 | |
| 2025 | 4 | 4 | |
| Total | 8 | 4 | |
- Scores and results list Colombia's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Suárez goal.
| No. | Date | Venue | Cap | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 9 September 2025 | Estadio Monumental, Maturín, Venezuela | 6 | Venezuela | 2–2 | 6–3 | 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 2 | 3–2 | ||||||
| 3 | 4–2 | ||||||
| 4 | 5–2 |
Honours
Individual
- Segunda División top scorer: 2024–25[56]
- Primeira Liga Player of the Month: January 2026,[57] February 2026[58]
References
- ^ "Premier League clubs publish 2019/20 retained lists". Premier League. 26 June 2020. Archived from the original on 18 January 2021. Retrieved 12 July 2020.
- ^ "Luis Suárez". Olympique de Marseille. Archived from the original on 20 March 2023. Retrieved 1 August 2022.
- ^ a b "Luis Javier Suárez refuerza el filial del Granada" [Luis Javier Suárez bolsters the reserve team of Granada] (in Spanish). Marca. 1 March 2016. Archived from the original on 20 August 2018. Retrieved 10 July 2018.
- ^ "Cuatro refuerzos para el Promesas" [Four additions for Promesas] (in Spanish). Real Valladolid. 17 July 2017. Archived from the original on 20 August 2018. Retrieved 10 July 2018.
- ^ "Luis J. Suárez, nou jugador grana" [Luis J. Suárez, new grana player] (in Catalan). Gimnàstic Tarragona. 9 July 2018. Archived from the original on 20 March 2019. Retrieved 10 July 2018.
- ^ "Aveldaño acude al rescate del Tenerife en el 93'" [Aveldaño comes to the rescue of Tenerife in the 93'] (in Spanish). Marca. 20 August 2018. Archived from the original on 20 August 2018. Retrieved 21 August 2018.
- ^ "El Real Zaragoza llega a un acuerdo con el Watford por la cesión de Luis Suárez" [Real Zaragoza reach an agreement with Watford for the loan of Luis Suárez] (in Spanish). Real Zaragoza. 21 June 2019. Archived from the original on 8 November 2020. Retrieved 26 June 2019.
- ^ "Watford leave Real Zaragoza furious by refusing to allow Luis Suarez to play in playoff matches". Marca. 31 July 2020. Retrieved 19 August 2020.
- ^ https://www.deportesrcn.com/futbol/el-colombiano-luis-suarez-es-oficializado-como-jugador-del-granada-37299
- ^ https://www.espn.com/soccer/match/_/gameId/585908/omonia-nicosia-granada
- ^ https://www.football-espana.net/2020/11/05/granada-stretch-europa-league-unbeaten-run-with-omonia-nicosia-victory
- ^ https://www.beinsports.com/en-us/soccer/la-liga/articles-video/luis-suarez-fires-granada-in-front-v-osasuna
- ^ https://www.valenciacf.com/en-match-report-valencia-cf-draw-away-at-granada-cf-1-1-2021-08-21
- ^ https://www.laliga.com/en-GB/match/temporada-2021-2022-laliga-santander-granada-cf-real-betis-37
- ^ https://colombia.as.com/colombia/2021/01/13/futbol/1610501666_234375.html
- ^ https://www.thescore.com/news/2655177?
- ^ https://rmcsport.bfmtv.com/football/ligue-1/mercato-que-vaut-luis-suarez-le-nouvel-attaquant-de-l-olympique-de-marseille_AV-202207190154.html
- ^ https://www.espn.com/soccer/match/_/gameId/639616/stade-de-reims-marseille
- ^ https://en.as.com/resultados/futbol/francia/2022_2023/directo/regular_a_1_406909/
- ^ https://www.espn.com/soccer/match/_/gameId/639616/stade-de-reims-marseille
- ^ https://www.espn.com/soccer/match/_/gameId/639699/marseille-angers
- ^ https://www.getfootballnewsfrance.com/2022/official-marseille-loan-luis-suarez-to-almeria/
- ^ https://www.udalmeriasad.com/en/news/top-class-luis-suarez-to-reinforce-ud-almeria-attacking-options
- ^ https://www.udalmeriasad.com/en/news/colombian-luis-suarez-makes-ud-almeria-debut
- ^ https://www.espn.com/soccer/match//gameId/644080/almeria-getafe
- ^ https://www.espn.com/soccer/match//gameId/644080/almeria-getafe
- ^ https://www.espn.com/soccer/standings/_/league/esp.1
- ^ https://www.espn.com/soccer/match/_/gameId/674071/almeria-sevilla
- ^ https://www.udalmeriasad.com/en/news/3-3-el-almeria-pierde-dos-puntos-despues-de-irse-al-descanso-ganando-3-0
- ^ https://www.udalmeriasad.com/en/news/3-3-el-almeria-pierde-dos-puntos-despues-de-irse-al-descanso-ganando-3-0
- ^ https://www.udalmeriasad.com/en/news/luis-suarez-sufre-una-fractura-incompleta-del-perone
- ^ https://www.udalmeriasad.com/en/matches/season-2024-2025-segunda-division-almeria-vs-racing-ferrol
- ^ https://www.udalmeriasad.com/en/matches/season-2024-2025-segunda-division-almeria-vs-racing-ferrol
- ^ https://www.udalmeriasad.com/en/matches/season-2024-2025-segunda-division-almeria-vs-granada
- ^ https://www.udalmeriasad.com/en/matches/season-2024-2025-segunda-division-almeria-vs-granada
- ^ https://www.espn.com/soccer/match/_/gameId/724694
- ^ https://www.espn.com/soccer/match/_/gameId/724699
- ^ https://www.udalmeriasad.com/en/matches/season-2024-2025-segunda-division-almeria-vs-racing-ferrol
- ^ https://www.udalmeriasad.com/en/news/luis-suarez-maximo-goleador-del-campeonato-con-27-goles
- ^ https://www.reuters.com/sports/soccer/colombian-luis-suarez-joins-sporting-almeria-2025-07-28
- ^ https://www.udalmeriasad.com/en/news/luis-suarez-maximo-goleador-del-campeonato-con-27-goles
- ^ "Colombian Luis Suarez joins Sporting from Almeria". Reuters. 28 July 2025.
- ^ "Sporting CP 6–0 Arouca". ESPN. 17 August 2025.
- ^ "Napoli 2–1 Sporting CP". ESPN. 1 October 2025.
- ^ Villamizar, Andrés Felipe (12 November 2020). "El futbolista recibió su primera convocatoria y estuvo llena de emociones". El Tiempo (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 14 March 2024. Retrieved 14 March 2024.
- ^ Alexandre, Tiago Gama. "Tem nome de goleador e uma difícil tarefa pela frente: quem é Luis Suárez, a aposta do Sporting para substituir Gyökeres". Observador (in European Portuguese). Retrieved 28 July 2025.
- ^ "Estrela do Sporting faz 'poker' pela Colômbia no apuramento para o Mundial". SIC Notícias (in Portuguese). 10 September 2025. Retrieved 13 September 2025.
- ^ Alexandre, Tiago Gama. "Tem nome de goleador e uma difícil tarefa pela frente: quem é Luis Suárez, a aposta do Sporting para substituir Gyökeres". Observador (in European Portuguese). Retrieved 28 July 2025.
- ^ Redação (25 June 2025). "Veja como joga Luis Suárez, alvo do Sporting para suceder a Gyokeres". O Jogo (in Portuguese). Retrieved 27 July 2025.
- ^ Alexandre, Tiago Gama. "Tem nome de goleador e uma difícil tarefa pela frente: quem é Luis Suárez, a aposta do Sporting para substituir Gyökeres". Observador (in European Portuguese). Retrieved 28 July 2025.
- ^ Abola.pt (28 July 2025). "Sporting: Suárez com vontade de «devorar o mundo» | Abola.pt". Abola.pt (in Portuguese). Retrieved 28 July 2025.
- ^ "Sporting: conflito de Suárez em resolução". A Bola (in Portuguese). 2 August 2025. Retrieved 19 August 2025.
- ^ "Almeria forward Suarez accused of assaulting his wife - Ideal.es". Tribuna.com. 29 December 2024. Retrieved 19 August 2025.
- ^ Luis Suárez at Soccerway
- ^ "Luis Suárez". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 20 July 2022.
- ^ "Spain » Segunda División 2024/2025 » Top Scorer". WorldFootball.net. Retrieved 11 August 2025.
- ^ "Luis Suárez is the Liga Portugal Betclic Player of the Month". Liga Portugal. 12 February 2026. Retrieved 12 February 2026.
- ^ "Another Player of the Month award for Luis Suárez". Liga Portugal. 12 March 2026. Retrieved 12 March 2026.
External links
- Luis Suárez – French league stats at Ligue 1 – also available in French (archived)
- Luis Suárez – UEFA competition record (archive)