Most strikers are coaching youth teams or doing punditry by their late thirties. Luis Suárez is still deciding games.
The Uruguayan forward scored twice on Thursday night as Inter Miami saw off Chicago Fire 3-2, delivering an 8.7 match rating that would flatter players a decade younger. At 39, Suárez continues to shred the idea that elite finishing has an expiry date.
Two finishes, no rust
Chicago arrived in South Florida and made a contest of it, but Suárez found the net twice to tilt the balance. His movement remains sharp, his timing in the box still a step ahead of most defenders tasked with marking him. The Fire pushed hard and grabbed two goals of their own, yet Miami's veteran spearhead ensured his side had the final word.
It is rare to see a player north of 35 sustaining this level of output in a league whose pace and physicality can humble younger legs. Suárez, though, appears immune to the calendar. His positioning, his first touch, his willingness to gamble on half-chances: all intact.
No sign of slowing
Miami's attack continues to lean on him, and he continues to deliver. Two goals in a narrow win, an elite rating on the night, and zero indication he intends to step aside anytime soon. As long as Suárez keeps scoring, the question is not whether he can still do it at 39. The question is how much longer he plans to keep proving everyone wrong.