Messi and Suarez unite to nurture future stars in Montevideo
The Argentine and his partner, Luis Suarez, have enjoyed many seasons together in their club careers. They are also involved in a club that focuses on training children and youth in the suburbs of Montevideo.
Montevideo, with a population of just under 1.4 million, is the largest metropolis in Uruguay. It is also the capital of the South American country where Luis Suarez was born. He is one of the most significant footballers in Uruguay's history.
Luis Suarez played for Nacional from Montevideo until 2006. After making his senior debut, he moved to Europe, where he played uninterruptedly until 2022. Later, the forward tried his skills at Brazilian club Gremio, and since 2023, he has been playing for American club Inter Miami.
The forward is 38 years old and shared the dressing room with Lionel Messi for a large part of his club career. He is currently at Inter Miami, having previously spent six years at FC Barcelona. The players became friends and are now involved in the project in Montevideo.
Lionel Messi joined Luis Suarez at the club Deportivo LS, which was founded in 2018 in Ciudad de la Costa in the suburbs of Montevideo. The club primarily focuses on training children and youth and boasts over three thousand trainees. Deportivo's senior team competes in the fourth division in Uruguay.
"It is a great honour and joy for me to be part of all this with you. I am grateful for your invitation, for choosing me, and I hope to contribute as much as possible to the development of this project. I can't wait to be there, alongside you," cites Lionel Messi, according to the academy's website.
With such founders and ambassadors, Deportivo could soon begin to make an impact beyond Uruguayan stadiums. However, as Luis Suarez emphasises, the primary focus remains on social activities, particularly engaging children and youth.
