The CONCACAF Champions Cup quarterfinal second leg between Inter Miami and Los Angeles FC on April 9, 2025, at Chase Stadium delivered drama, brilliance, and a moment of infamy.
Inter Miami, trailing 1-0 from the first leg, staged a thrilling 3-1 comeback to advance to the semifinals, led by Lionel Messi’s brace.
But the match’s defining image wasn’t Messi’s penalty kick or the celebration—it was Luis Suárez, in a bizarre and controversial moment, appearing to attempt a bite on teammate Jordi Alba during a chaotic melee in the 89th minute.
Inter Miami entered the second leg with their backs against the wall. Nathan Ordaz’s 57th-minute strike in Los Angeles had given LAFC a slender lead, and when Aaron Long headed home in the ninth minute at Chase Stadium, the Herons faced a daunting 2-0 aggregate deficit.
But Miami, under coach Javier Mascherano, refused to fold. Messi ignited the comeback in the 35th minute, rifling a left-footed shot into the top corner after a slick combination with Suárez.
In the 61st minute, Noah Allen’s chipped pass found Federico Redondo, who headed home to level the aggregate score at 2-2, though LAFC still held the away-goal tiebreaker.
The decisive moment came in the 84th minute when a VAR review awarded Miami a penalty for a handball by LAFC’s Marlon Santos. Messi calmly slotted past Lloris, securing a 3-1 victory on the night and a semifinal berth against either Pumas or Vancouver Whitecaps.
Suárez and Messi combined for multiple chances, though the Uruguayan’s header in the 67th minute was ruled offside—but it was the late-game chaos that stole headlines.
In the 89th minute, with tensions boiling over, a hard foul on Messi by LAFC’s Marlon Santos sparked a mass confrontation.
Players from both sides converged, shoving and jostling as referee Víctor Rivas struggled to restore order.
Amid the scrum, Suárez, caught in the fray, appeared to bite what he thought was an LAFC player’s hand. Instead, it was Jordi Alba, his longtime friend and former Barcelona teammate.
The episode added another chapter to Suárez’s controversial legacy.
The 38-year-old Uruguayan has been involved in three high-profile biting incidents so far his career.
2010, Ajax vs. PSV: Playing for Ajax, Suárez bit PSV’s Otman Bakkal on the shoulder during a scuffle. The Dutch FA banned him for seven matches, and the incident earned him the nickname “Cannibal of Ajax” in the press. It was a warning sign of the impulsiveness that would follow.
2013, Liverpool vs. Chelsea: In a Premier League match, Suárez bit Chelsea’s Branislav Ivanović on the arm. The act, caught on camera, led to a 10-match ban from the English FA. Suárez apologized, but his reputation took a hit, with critics questioning his self-control.
2014, World Cup vs. Italy: The most infamous incident occurred when Suárez bit Italy’s Giorgio Chiellini during a group-stage match.
FIFA slapped him with a four-month ban from all football activities and a nine-match international suspension, forcing him to miss Uruguay’s knockout games. The incident overshadowed his stellar season and fueled global mockery.
Since joining Inter Miami in 2024, Suárez had largely stayed out of trouble, focusing on his role as a leader alongside Messi. His 2025 stats—four goals and six assists in 11 matches across MLS and CONCACAF—underscore his value. But the Alba incident, even if unintentional, reminded fans of the volatility that simmers beneath his intensity.
