The Top 10 Footballers of 2014 #6: Luis Suarez

Luis Suarez

After missing the first 5 games of the 2013/14 season through suspension (after biting Branislav Ivanovic) and trying to force a move to Arsenal, Suarez eventually accepted his fate and stayed. He made it his personal mission to prove all critics wrong that season and nearly single-handedly transformed Liverpool from a team that placed 7th to  title challengers and eventual runners up, by the end of the season.  Suarez scored all kinds of goals from his near half field volley against Norwich to his near half field run  to wrap up a 4-0 Merseyside derby win.  His best form was a run games in which he scored 10 goals in 4 games which is  a Premier league record. His efforts would ultimately be in vain as Liverpool crumbled under the pressure and lost to Chelsea 2-0 and then threw away a 3-0 lead against Crystal Palace. His desolate nature at the end of the game was a telling image of a brilliant player who had done all he could to lead his team to glory, yet fell short.

He would have something to smile about come the end of the season as he inevitably ended sweeping the end of season awards winning the PFA Player of the Year, FWA Player of the Year and European Premier League Golden Boots. What made his feat of scoring 31 goals more amazing was that none of the goals were penalties and Ronaldo who he tied with for the Golden Boot was the designated penalty taker.

Unfortunately for Suarez he suffered an injury in the months leading up to the World Cup and was forced to sit out the first group game in which Uruguay surprisingly lost 3-1 to Costa Rica. The next game was played up as Suarez vs. the English media as they had constantly slaughtered (with good reason). In true Suarez fashion, he responded by scoring a brace to knock England out from the World Cup. It was in the deciding group game that Suarez would ultimately make the headlines once again. He bit Giorgio Chiellini and earned for himself a 4 month ban and without him spearheading the attack, Uruguay were soundly beaten 3-0 by a James Rodriguez inspired Columbia. That didn’t stop Barcelona from spending 75 Million Euros on him.

Sadly because of Suarez’s appalling behavior his genius is sometimes overlooked and this played a part in him not making the final 23 players for the Ballon D’or.  Whilst his conduct can be outrightly repugnant, with the ball at his feet, the talent is undeniable.