Longtime teammates Luis Suárez and Lionel Messi are turning their bond into a business venture with the launch of a new professional soccer team in Uruguay. Suárez announced that the team, formerly known as Deportivo LS, will now be rebranded as LSM—reflecting both Suárez’s and Messi’s initials—and will begin competing in Uruguay’s fourth division.

Suárez, Uruguay’s all-time top scorer, said the project fulfills a “family dream” that began in 2018 with the creation of a sprawling 20-acre sports complex in Ciudad de la Costa, just outside Montevideo. The complex now serves over 3,000 members and includes a synthetic turf stadium seating 1,400 spectators.

“This is about giving back to the country and sport that made me who I am,” Suárez said in a video posted to social media, where Messi sat beside him. “I want to offer young Uruguayans the tools and opportunities to grow through football.”

Messi expressed his pride in being asked to join the project and hinted at a supporting role in the club’s future. While his exact position hasn’t been specified, local reports say Messi is likely a partner in the venture.

The legendary Uruguayan playmaker Álvaro Recoba, a former Inter Milan star, is expected to coach the team.

The club’s Instagram account, launched alongside the announcement, quickly gained traction, amassing over 40,000 followers in just two hours, a sign of strong public interest.

The LSM initiative marks a new chapter for the Inter Miami duo—one focused not on goals and trophies, but on development, opportunity, and legacy in Uruguayan football.