Matías Suárez

Matías Ezequiel Suárez (Spanish pronunciation: [maˈti.as ˈswaɾes]; born 9 May 1988) is an Argentine professional footballer who plays as a forward for Belgrano.

Matías Suárez
Suárez playing for Anderlecht in 2016
Personal information
Full nameMatías Ezequiel Suárez
Date of birth (1988-05-09) 9 May 1988 (age 36)[1]
Place of birthLa Falda, Córdoba, Argentina
Height1.76 m (5 ft 9 in)[2]
Position(s)Forward
Team information
Current team
Belgrano
Number7
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2005–2008Belgrano55(13)
2008–2016Anderlecht173(50)
2016–2019Belgrano57(10)
2019–2024River Plate79(33)
2024–Belgrano6(0)
International career
2019–Argentina6(0)
Medal record
Men's football
Representing  Argentina
Copa América
Third place2019 Brazil
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 15:36, 25 April 2024 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 13:32, 19 April 2023 (UTC)

Club career

Club Atlético Belgrano

Suárez started his professional career at Club Atlético Belgrano in 2006. He was Club Atlético Belgrano's top scorer in the Primera B Nacional of Argentina in 2007–08.[3] Due to his performances he attracted the attention of Arsenal.[4]

Anderlecht

In 2008 Suárez moved from Belgrano and completed his transfer to Anderlecht. He went on to establish himself as a key member of the Anderlecht side contributing many goals and assists in the process, especially following the departure of the team's star player Romelu Lukaku to Chelsea in the summer of 2011.

The 2011–12 season was his best so far, on a personal level and with the team. While Anderlecht were crowned Belgian champions, Suárez was crowned Player of the Year 2011 and elected Player of the Season 2011–12 by his professional colleagues in Belgium.[5] After a highly successful season, Suarez was officially signed by CSKA Moscow. The fee was undisclosed and later cancelled as Suárez failed the medical tests and returned to Anderlecht afterwards.

Return to Belgrano

After the 2016 terrorist attacks on Brussels, Suárez announced his intention to leave Anderlecht at the end of the season, despite Anderlecht and Belgrano not agreeing on a transfer fee. As a consequence, he terminated his contract unilaterally, allegedly fearing for his family's safety.[6] In December 2017, FIFA delivered a decision in favor of Anderlecht, ruling out any alleged threat on Suárez family and ordered Suárez and his club to pay Anderlecht compensation.[7] The club filed a complaint to FIFA Dispute Resolution Chamber, which ordered the player to pay €540,350 to the club. Both the player and the club filed an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. The court ordered the player and Belgrano jointly liable to pay Anderlecht €1,212,225.23.[8]

River Plate

On 26 January 2019, River Plate paid Belgrano $2.8 million for the player's rights. Suárez signed a three-and-a-half-year contract with his new team.[9]He scored his first goal on his debut on 30 January 2019, against Godoy Cruz.

Belgrano

In January 2024, he returned to Belgrano for a third spell on a one-year contract.[10]

International career

Suárez made his debut for Argentina national team on 22 March 2019 in a friendly against Venezuela, as a half-time substitute for Pity Martínez.[11]

Personal life

He is the uncle of fellow footballers Federico Álvarez and Gastón Álvarez Suárez.[12][13] He is married to singer Magalí Olave and has two children.[14]

Career statistics

As of 19 April 2023[15][16][17][18]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational cup[a]League cup[b]ContinentalOther[c]Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Anderlecht2008–09Belgian First Division111002011152
2009–10Belgian Pro League35113013[d]4005115
2010–11Belgian Pro League3481012[d]2104710
2011–12Belgian Pro League35120010[e]7004520
2012–13Belgian Pro League113000000113
2013–14Belgian Pro League116113[f]010157
2014–15Belgian Pro League134103[f]010164
2015–16Belgian Pro League235217[e]000326
Total173507250134123267
Belgrano2016–17Argentine Primera División20340004[g]000283
2017–18Argentine Primera División24510000000255
2018–19Argentine Primera División13210000000142
Total5710600040006710
River Plate2018–19Argentine Primera División9312212[h]100147
2019–20Argentine Primera División217100012[i]111359
2020–21Argentine Primera División82100011[i]200204
2021Argentine Primera División17700006[i]100238
2022Argentine Primera División20720004[i]200269
2023Argentine Primera División470000000047
Total793352213571112244
Career total3099718421892052421121

Honours

Anderlecht

River Plate

Individual

References