Luis Suarez reached 100-goal mark for Barcelona / Image by SoccerNews.com
Centurion
Uruguay international is no stranger to sensational goals, but his last one was something special.
Suarez opened the scoring in his side’s Copa del Rey last-16 second leg 3-1 win over Athletic Bilbao on Wednesday night, that way capping another impressive appearance for the Catalan club.
And as he latched on Neymar’s cross at the far post to rifle the ball into the far corner with a side volley, Luis Suarez did not only score another screamer – he scored his 100th goal for Barcelona. The Uruguay striker reached his Barcelona landmark 68 games faster than Leo Messi, but is trailing his teammate in La Liga by one goal this season however. On the other note, Suarez still stands at valuable 6/4 betting odds to finish the season as top goalscorer.
Suarez’s 100th goal for Barcelona against Athletic Bilbao made him the third-fastest Barcelona player ever to do so. Spanish striker Mariano Martin needed only 99 games during the 1940s, whereas the Hungarian forward Laszlo Kubala netted a hundred goals in 103 to Luis Suarez’s 120.
In one word – impressive.
Double Digits and Incredible Exploits
If we are to argue whether Luis Suarez is arguably the most lethal striker in Europe, we need to take certain arguments into account.
His wild nature and unpredictable character aside in this article meant to glorify his extraordinary goalscoring exploits, numbers will speak for themselves.
Luis Suarez has reached double digits when talking about league goals in every single season of his entire professional career, constantly pushing the envelope higher and further as he moved along the path of prominence.
Starting off from his boyhood club Nacional where he scored 10 goals in 27 league games, across his single season at Groningen where he bagged 10 goals in 29 Eredivisie matches all the way to Ajax and 81 goals in 110 games, it was evident that Luis Suarez was something special.
Four seasons in Liverpool resulted in 69 Premier league goals he scored during 110 matches, whereas three seasons in Spain have so far yielded 68 La Liga goals in only 78 appearances.
Centurion Suarez reached the magical number of 100 goals for Barcelona after only 120 appearances across all competitions and you can take a look at our latest Instagram post for the complete number breakdown:
Recognition and FIFA Feud
Europe first noticed Luis Suarez as an overweight teenager in a Groningen shirt, but Luis Suarez used his teeth to build a reputation of a blood-thirsty biter who never quite received the recognition he deserved.
At least on the global level.
His clubs respected him and continue to do so. Defended him from the barrage of critics judging him solely on his behaviour, with Liverpool being the best example. It is the world that never quite saw Luis Suarez for what he truly was.
Those who know him claim the Uruguay international is a good and humble man, respectful of his tough beginnings. Problems he faced as a young boy made him into the ferocious animal on the pitch and perhaps we should all show more understanding when paying respect he deserves for all he does for the world football.
World’s governing football body FIFA have a long-standing feud with the Uruguay footballer which is stronger than ever from the moment Suarez bit Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini. His lengthy ban ruined his relationship with FIFA beyond the repairing point, but Luis Suarez appears to have outgrown it.
Not FIFA apparently.
FIFA select an unflattering photo for Suarez / Image – Youtube screenshot
The latest detail which occurred during the inaugural The Best awards ceremony seems to be claiming so. During the presentation of The Best XI, FIFA opted to go for a curiously goofy and some would even call it scary photo of Luis Suarez, whereas all other players were assigned more flattering pictures.
A grudge on the Barcelona hitman? A revenge of sort?
Another detail up for a debate.
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