Football without Messi is a poorer place: Suarez

Football is a poorer place without Lionel Messi, according to his Barcelona team-mate Luis Suarez.

The striker’s comments come following Messi’s return to international football with Argentina, having scored the winner for the Albiceleste against Suarez’s Uruguay upon his return.

Messi struck the only goal of the game as 10-man Argentina secured a 1-0 win over their rivals in World Cup qualifying on Thursday.

And although Suarez was disappointed with the defeat, he was happy to see his club colleague make his return from his short-lived retirement.

‘I am pleased because he is my friend and because I know what playing for Argentina means to him, but also I am pleased for football,’ Suarez told Goal. ‘World Cups and Copa America’s would be a poorer place without him in it.

‘The biggest international tournaments in the world need the best player in the world in them - it is a good result for everybody.

Suarez is also looking forward to Naymar’s return to Barcelona action following the 24-year-old captaining his country to a gold medal at the Rio Olympics.

‘We are looking forward to having Neymar back at Barcelona after the international break,’ Suarez added. ‘The three of us [Suarez, Neymar, and Messi] have reached a good understanding on the field, but there is a belief that we can reach an even higher level this season.

‘We are not just team-mates we are friends, and that always helps.’