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For Immediate Release
MLS Communications |
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Inter Miami CF Forward Luis Suárez
Voted MLS Player of the Matchday for Matchday 5
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NEW YORK (Monday, March 18, 2024) – Inter Miami CF forward Luis Suárez was voted the Major League Soccer Player of the Matchday for Matchday 5 of the 2024 MLS season.
Suárez came off the bench for Inter Miami and scored two goals, including the game-winning goal in the club’s 3-1 victory at D.C. United on Saturday, March 16. With his brace, Suárez has four goals in 2024 and is tied atop the MLS’ scoring leaderboard along with Atlanta’s Giorgos Giakoumakis and the LA Galaxy’s Dejan Joveljic. The Uruguayan became the first player in club history to record four-or-more goals through the team’s first five games of a season. Suárez became just the 12th player in league history to score multiple goals in two of his first five career MLS games and the first since Sporting Kansas City’s Willy Agada in 2022. In seven games across all competitions in 2024, the striker has totaled six goals and five assists, while helping Miami to a 3-1-1 start in MLS regular-season play and a berth in the Concacaf Champions Cup quarterfinals.
With the game tied at one, Suárez entered the match in the 62nd minute and gave Miami a 2-1 lead in the 72nd minute as a perfect cross from forward Leonardo Campana found the sliding Uruguayan for a quick score. Thirteen minutes later, Suárez gathered a loose ball, positioned himself at the edge of the 18-yard box, and placed a delicate chipped effort over the D.C. goalkeeper for a 3-1 advantage.
This is the second time Suárez has been named MLS Player of the Matchday this season, after winning the award for his performance on Matchday 3. With the honor, Suárez becomes the sixth player in league history to win two of the first four Player of the Matchday awards to start a season, alongside Thiago Almada (2023), Javier 'Chicharito' Hernández (2021), Thierry Henry (2012), Carlos Ruiz (2002), and Cobi Jones (1998). Suárez also joins Leonardo Campana (three) and Gonzalo Higuaín (two) as the only players in club history to win the award multiple times.
Miami will look to extend their strong start to the year when they travel to face the New York Red Bulls at Red Bull Arena on Saturday, March 23 (2 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV).
The MLS Player of the Matchday is selected each matchday of the regular season through both media and fan voting in a process conducted by MLS Communications. A panel of journalists from the North American Soccer Reporters (NASR) comprises 75 percent of the vote, while an X (formerly known as Twitter) fan vote represents the remaining 25 percent of voting. NASR consists of members of print, television, radio, and online media.
| 2024 MLS Player of the Matchday Winners |
| Matchday |
Player |
Club |
| Matchdays 1 and 2 |
Christian Benteke |
D.C. United |
| Matchday 3 |
Luis Suárez |
Inter Miami CF |
| Matchday 4 |
Giorgos Giakoumakis |
Atlanta United |
| Matchday 5 |
Luis Suárez |
Inter Miami CF |
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