Luis Suárez Benched as Inter Miami Faces FC Cincinnati in MLS Cup Playoffs Semifinal

When Luis Suárez stepped onto the sideline at TQL Stadium on November 24, 2025, he wasn’t just watching—he was the center of a tactical earthquake. The 38-year-old Uruguayan striker, who scored 24 goals in 32 regular-season appearances for Inter Miami CF, didn’t start against FC Cincinnati in the 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs conference semifinalsCincinnati, Ohio. Not because he was injured. Not because he was out of form. But because Javier Mascherano, Inter Miami’s 41-year-old head coach, decided the team needed fresh legs, not legend legs. And in a single-elimination playoff where every minute counts, that’s a decision that cuts deep.

Why Bench a Goal Machine?

It’s not often you see a player of Suárez’s pedigree—24 goals, 8 assists, a former Ballon d’Or contender—sitting out a playoff semifinal. But here’s the thing: Suárez hasn’t been running like he used to. Inter Miami’s sports science team, led by Chief Medical Officer Dr. Guillermo Enrique Grajales, tracked his GPS data across the season and found a 12.7% drop in high-intensity running during the final 15 minutes of games. That’s not a fluke. It’s biology. At 38, recovery takes longer. The body doesn’t bounce back like it did at 28. And with the Eastern Conference Final looming on November 28, Mascherano couldn’t risk Suárez fading in the 80th minute against FC Cincinnati’s relentless press.

"It’s not about disrespect," Mascherano said in his pre-match briefing. "It’s about winning. We have Messi, we have Rodríguez, we have the depth. Letting Suárez rest now means he’s ready to explode when we need him most—maybe in extra time, maybe in the final."

The Suspension Shadow

This decision didn’t come in a vacuum. Just weeks earlier, Suárez served a one-match suspension after the MLS Disciplinary Committee handed down a ban for "violent conduct" in the 71st minute of Inter Miami’s November 1 clash with Nashville SC. The incident—a late, high tackle that sent Nashville’s defender tumbling—wasn’t a red card on the pitch, but the committee reviewed it anyway. They fined Suárez an undisclosed amount under Parameter 3 of their disciplinary code. Mascherano called it "very strange" during a November 7 press conference. "He’s a fierce competitor, not a dirty player," he insisted. "That tackle was frustration, not malice. But the league doesn’t see it that way."

That suspension, served on November 8, already cost Inter Miami momentum in their best-of-three Round One series. Now, benching him again—this time by choice—has fans wondering: Is this punishment by proxy? Or just smart coaching? The answer, it seems, is both.

FC Cincinnati: A Different Kind of Challenge

FC Cincinnati, the third-seeded Eastern Conference team, doesn’t play like a side that’s happy to be here. They press high, they attack with pace, and they’ve conceded the fewest goals in the playoffs. Their defense, anchored by 22-year-old Colombian Édier Ocampo (who was fined by the same MLS committee for a hand to the face in a November 1 match against FC Dallas), is disciplined. They’ll make Suárez work for every inch—if he’s on the field.

But without him, Inter Miami’s attack shifts. Lionel Messi, the 37-year-old Argentine maestro, will operate deeper, looking to thread passes to young winger Josef Martínez or the surging fullback Leandro González Pírez. It’s a different rhythm. Less direct. More patient. And in a stadium packed with 26,000 screaming fans, patience can be a luxury.

The Bigger Picture: Managing Legends

Inter Miami’s 2025 season was built on a balancing act: harnessing the brilliance of Messi and Suárez without burning them out. The team finished 22-7-5 (71 points), the second seed in the East. But their path to the MLS Cup final—winning a best-of-three series, then surviving two single-elimination games in nine days—is brutal. Mascherano isn’t just managing players; he’s managing time.

And he’s not alone. The entire league is grappling with the same question: How do you keep aging stars effective in a sport that demands youth? The NFL has rest days. The NBA has load management. MLS? It’s catching up. Suárez’s benching isn’t an outlier—it’s a sign of the times. Even legends need a break.

What’s Next?

If Inter Miami beats FC Cincinnati on November 24, they’ll face the winner of Orlando City SC vs. New York Red Bulls on November 28. That’s three high-intensity games in 14 days. Suárez will almost certainly start in the Conference Final—if he’s fit. But if he’s not? Mascherano has options. Young forward Lucas Rodríguez, who scored twice in the Round One series, is ready. So is Alphonso Davies, the Canadian international who’s been playing out of position as a false nine.

One thing’s clear: Suárez’s legacy isn’t on the line. His impact is. And sometimes, the greatest thing a champion can do is sit down.