Sports Nicknames - El Pistolero

Luis Suarez is one of the most famous strikers in world football. Whether it's his goal scoring, World Cup antics or occasional hint of cannibalism, the Uruguayan is nothing if not well-known. His fame has meant that he picked up the nickname "El Pistolero" over his career.



The actual origin of the nickname isn't clearly known. Perhaps it was his tendency to celebrate his many goals with finger guns. Or perhaps it is rash and seemingly wild behaviour throughout his career that seems to have carried him straight to the top, akin to a wild gunslinger.

Suarez first rose to fame in Europe when he moved to Ajax in 2007, where he scored 81 goals in 110 appearances. That earned him a move to England, where Liverpool bought him for £22.8 million. After an initially disappointing season, his form rose to his Ajax levels, eventually scoring 69 goals in 110 appearances for the Reds. His most recent move and most successful time has been spent at Barcelona, where he formed the famous "MSN" trio of Messi-Suarez-Neymar. He has won La Liga, the Copa del Rey and the Champions League during his time in Spain.

Suarez has been noted for his controversy, especially while in England. He was accused and found guilty of racially abusing Patrice Evra, while he bit Chelsea's Branislav Ivanovic in a match. He had previously bit Otman Bakkal at Ajax and would go on to bite Giorgio Chiellini in the 2014 World Cup. This, after handballing a goal off the line against Ghana in the 2010 edition of the competition.

Regardless of what Suarez is remembered for, El Pistolero will most certainly be remembered once he hangs up his boots.

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After playing for Atletico Madrid, Nacional in his native Uruguay and Gremio in Brazil, Suarez has in the twilight of his career joined Inter Miami and will be once again playing alongside his best friend Lionel Messi, this time in the USA.

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