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Luis Suarez names the 5 greatest strikers of all time: Messi but no Ronaldo…

Published

9 months ago

March 10, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

Luis-Suarez-Lionel-Messi © PA Images

Cristiano Ronaldo didn’t make the cut when Luis Suarez recently named his five greatest strikers of all time.

There’s a debate about whether Suarez himself is in this conversation, but the Uruguayan didn’t choose to include himself in the list either.

During an interview with Bleacher Report, the Inter Miami star was asked to name his top five greatest strikers and these were the players he selected.

5. Romario

“Number five is Romario,” Suarez said. “[The] finish time for him is amazing.”

The Brazilian scored over 700 official goals during his illustrious career, making him one of the most prolific players in football history.

He’s also one of a select few players who has scored over 100 goals for three separate clubs, having reached that tally with PSV, Flamengo and Vasco da Gama.

For Barcelona, Romario scored 39 goals in 65 appearances, averaging a strike every 139 minutes. For context, Suarez scored a goal every 122 minutes on average for Barcelona.

4. Ronaldo Nazario

“Then Ronaldo, the Brazilian Ronaldo. He’s really good,” Suarez said.

“He’s so quick, he’s so fast. He’s an intelligent guy, a really good player.”

Regarded by many as the best player of his generation, who knows what levels he could’ve reached had it not been for injuries.

The two-time Ballon d’Or winner scored 371 goals in just 580 appearances throughout his career, averaging a goal every 123 minutes.

He was a force to be reckoned with during his peak years and was arguably the most lethal player on his entire list during his heyday.

3. Diego Forlan

“For me, he’s one of the best,” is how Suarez described his former international teammate.

“I played with him, [he’s a] really good striker, he played for the team. He liked to shoot from wherever you want. He’s really good and he’s number three.”

Forlan enjoyed his peak years playing in La Liga for Villarreal and Atletico Madrid, but it was his performances for the national team that made him a hero in Uruguay.

He was practically unplayable during the 2010 World Cup as he swept most of the individual accolades, winning the Player of the Tournament, Golden Boot and Goal of the Tournament awards for his heroics in South Africa.

The following year he then played an instrumental role in Uruguay’s Copa America triumph in 2011.

After Suarez scored the opening goal against Paraguay in the final, Forlan scored a brace to wrap the game up. It’s no wonder he’s adored by his nation.

2. Gabriel Batistuta

“Number two is Batistuta. [My] favourite player when I was a child,” Suarez explained.

“Really good number nine, he took free-kicks, I loved his character as well.”

Given that Suarez was growing up in the nineties, it’s no surprise that a player like Batistuta captured his imagination.

The Argentine forward enjoyed his peak years playing for Fiorentina, where he scored 204 goals in just 331 appearances. That’s quite the record.

1. Lionel Messi

“Number one for me is Messi.”

While we wouldn’t classify Messi as an out-and-out striker like the other names on this list, we can hardly begrudge Suarez for giving him the top spot.

As of writing, Suarez has played 285 games alongside the Argentine wizard and the pair have combined for 113 goals during that time.

“Messi is the best in history,” Suarez told Onda Cero in 2017. “He is also a spectacular human being who welcomed me very well when I got to Barcelona.”

The pair still share a close bond at Inter Miami today and will no doubt combine for plenty of goals this season too.

TRY A QUIZ: Can you name every team Luis Suarez scored against for Liverpool?

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SportsNews

EPL: Full list of players leaving for 2025 AFCON

Published

2 days ago

December 13, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

At least 25 players in the Premier League are set to travel for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.

The tournament is scheduled to take place from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026.

Nigeria, Ivory Coast, DR Congo lead the way in terms of players based in the English topflight, with four selected from each club for the AFCON.

FIFA has directed clubs to release the eligible players from Monday, December 15.

Full list of players confirmed

Sunderland (5):
Chemsdine Talbi (Morocco), Reinildo (Mozambique), Bertrand Traoré (Burkina Faso), Arthur Masuaku (DR Congo), Noah Sadiki (DR Congo).

Manchester United (3):
Bryan Mbeumo (Cameroon), Amad Diallo (Ivory Coast), Noussair Mazraoui (Morocco).

Fulham (3):
Alex Iwobi (Nigeria), Calvin Bassey (Nigeria), Samuel Chukwueze (Nigeria).

Burnley (3):
Axel Tuanzebe (DR Congo), Lyle Foster (South Africa), Hannibal Mejbri (Tunisia).

Nottingham Forest (2):
Ibrahim Sangaré (Ivory Coast), Willy Boly (Ivory Coast).

Brentford (2):
Dango Ouattara (Burkina Faso), Frank Onyeka (Nigeria).

Manchester City (1):
Omar Marmoush (Egypt),

West Ham United (1):
Aaron Wan-Bissaka (DR Congo)

Wolves (2):
Tawanda Chirewa (Zimbabwe), Emmanuel Agbadou (Ivory Coast).

Brighton & Hove Albion (1):
Carlos Baleba (Cameroon).

Crystal Palace (2):
Ismaïla Sarr (Senegal), Cheick Doucouré (Mali)

Liverpool (1):
Mohammed Salah (Egypt)

SportsNews

NNL bars fans from Ranchers Bees vs Adamawa United

Published

2 days ago

December 13, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

The Nigeria National League, NNL, has announced that matchday six fixture between Ranchers Bees and Adamawa United will be played behind closed doors.

The announcement was made in a statement by the league body.

Only the State Football Association representatives, staff of both teams, kit managers and medical personnel will be allowed into the stadium.

Others are the match officials, security personnel and camera men.

The reason for the decision to play the game without club supporters wasn’t stated by the league body.

The encounter will take place at the Bako Kontagora Stadium in Minna on Saturday (today).

SportsNews

Nigeria vs Egypt Friendly Gets New Date

Published

7 days ago

December 8, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

Nigeria’s preparations for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations have taken a fresh hit, with Egypt confirming that the highly anticipated friendly between both nations has been shifted from 14 to 16 December.

The Egyptian Football Association (EFA) announced the adjustment late Friday, noting that FIFA’s updated international release directive, which allows clubs keep African players until 15 December, made the original date unworkable.

EFA Vice President Khaled El-Darandaly explained that the new rule left both Egypt and Nigeria without full squads for the initial date.

Key Pharaohs players, including Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmoush, are now expected to arrive only after the new release window.

Egypt had already named its 28-man provisional squad and opened camp in Cairo, with head coach Hossam Hassan accelerating final preparations for a Group B campaign that includes South Africa, Angola and Zimbabwe.

Nigeria’s disruption is more extensive. The Super Eagles were originally scheduled to open camp on 10 December and progress through a streamlined friendly schedule before departing for Morocco. That entire framework has now been dismantled.

Under the revised timeline, camp will open on 14 December, leaving Eric Chelle with barely a week to prepare before AFCON kicks off.

The venue for the friendly is also now uncertain, with Cairo no longer feasible and both federations considering shifting the match to Morocco.

Nigeria’s build-up has been further destabilised by injuries to Ola Aina, Taiwo Awoniyi, Benjamin Fredrick and Felix Agu.

The shock retirement of captain William Troost-Ekong, winner of the 2023 AFCON Player of the Tournament award, creates an additional leadership vacuum in defence.

Chelle, who released a 55-man provisional list, must now trim his squad to 28 within a compressed window. Nigeria will compete in Group C alongside Tunisia, Uganda and Tanzania as they chase a fourth continental title.