Gremio's forward, Luis Suarez, was honored with the prestigious Golden Ball for being the standout player in the 2023 Brazilian Serie A.
Despite a sluggish start to the season, the Uruguayan striker embarked on a remarkable goal-scoring spree, concluding the campaign with an impressive tally of 17 goals and 11 assists from 33 games, as reported by Xinhua.
In all competitions, Suarez found the net 26 times and contributed 17 assists to his team, Gremio, with whom he inked a deal in January after transferring from Uruguay's Nacional.
Expressing his gratitude upon receiving the award, the seasoned player, formerly of Liverpool, Barcelona, and Atletico Madrid, acknowledged the challenges of the season. "I am almost 37 years old, and this is the year I played the most games in my career," Suarez shared. "It was also the year I was most often distant from my family. This award belongs to them," he added, holding back tears.
Initially signing a two-year contract with Gremio, Suarez now has the option to leave this month following a renegotiation in July. Despite the uncertainty surrounding his future, Gremio supporters have flooded his social media platforms, urging him to stay.
Reflecting on the acknowledgment from rival fans, Suarez remarked, "It is hard to see rival fans here applaud you when you play, and that did happen to me in some places. This is all about the player's mind. It doesn't matter how old they are. It just depends on the mindset and the commitment."
(With agency inputs)
