Luis Suárez Expected to Leave Inter Miami in 2026 as Nacional Pushes for His Return

At 38 years old, Luis Suárez once again finds himself at the center of football discussion after an unforgettable — yet bittersweet — 2025 season with Inter Miami. The Uruguayan striker delivered 10 goals and 10 assists across 28 MLS regular-season matches, contributing directly to Inter Miami’s first-ever MLS Cup championship. But with his contract set to expire on December 31, all signs now suggest that Suárez will not remain in Florida for the 2026 campaign.

Across all competitions, Suárez produced 17 official goals — proof that his instinct in front of goal remains intact. However, the final stretch of the season painted a different picture: Suárez lost his spot in the starting XI during the playoffs, as emerging stars Tadeo Allende and Mateo Silvetti took over Inter Miami’s front line in Javier Mascherano’s system. By the final weeks, Suárez had transitioned into a bench role during the club’s most decisive matches.

Contract circumstances are also accelerating the likelihood of a farewell. Suárez renewed his deal at the end of 2024 with hopes of continuing alongside longtime friend Lionel Messi, but the extension lasted only one season. At the time, Suárez summed up his excitement with a phrase that now gains new meaning: “I’m very happy to keep competing at the highest level.” Today, the competitive reality is different.

A demanding schedule — MLS, Leagues Cup, Concacaf Champions Cup and the Club World Cup — combined with the natural wear of nearly 20 years at the top level, reduced his physical availability and his impact in high-intensity moments. Meanwhile, Inter Miami continues shaping a roster built around Messi while boosting its younger core.

But while Miami seems to be moving into its next phase, a familiar dream has reawakened in Uruguay. In recent days, strong signals have emerged from Montevideo: Nacional wants Luis Suárez back for 2026. The speculation intensified once club vice president Flavio Perchman sent a message that electrified fans: “He will always have the doors open here.”

That momentum grew when midfielder and friend Nicolás Lodeiro publicly admitted that he talks to Suárez regularly and added: “We speak all the time — hopefully Luis can return.” For Nacional supporters, the possibility of one final chapter with the legendary striker has become a powerful hope.

A return to Nacional would carry deep emotional value. Suárez made his professional debut there in 2005, returned in 2022 to win the Uruguayan championship, and could now choose 2026 as the year to close his career where it all began. Such a move would give Nacional not only a world-class goalscorer, but also a leader capable of elevating the squad’s competitiveness and mentoring a new generation of attackers.

For Inter Miami, Suárez’s departure would open salary-cap space and additional minutes for Allende, Silvetti, and other rising talents who were crucial during the title run. Regardless of the timing, Suárez’s impact in Miami is undeniable: his goals, his chemistry with Messi, and his leadership helped transform Inter Miami into a powerhouse in North American football.

Whatever comes next — a nostalgic return to Nacional or a different challenge — will mark the final chapter of one of South America’s most prolific and iconic football careers.