Suarez claims Pichichi prize to end Messi-Ronaldo dominance

The Uruguay international has finished the season on 40 goals, five ahead of Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo, who claimed the prize last season.

Suarez is the first player to beat either Messi or Ronaldo to the award since compatriot Forlan in the 2008-2009 campaign.

He is also the third player to score 40 goals in a Liga season, with Messi and Ronaldo each achieving the feat three times.

"It's a unique moment to enjoy," he said. "I'm happy with everything.

"For the title, the goals, the happiness we've given to the fans."

Suarez added that he wanted to give thanks to all his team-mates for helping him score 53 goals in all competitions this season.

"Thanks to everyone because without them I couldn't have done it," Suarez said. "Without them, I wouldn't be in this situation.

"I only had to nudge the ball. They looked for me and I'm grateful for it, thanks to everyone once again."

Suarez is also set to claim the European Golden Shoe for the second time in his career, after he shared the award with Ronaldo in 2014.

Suarez and Barcelona now look ahead to next weekend's Copa Del Rey final against cup specialists Sevilla as they seek to win the double, but not without some La Liga celebrations first.

"Now we have to think about the cup, but today it's time to enjoy La Liga," the Uruguay international said.

"It's a competition we've worked for very hard over the year and in the end, we've got our reward."

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Suarez admits Tevez helped inspire his move to Liverpool

Luis Suarez has revealed he was inspired to move to the Premier League and join Liverpool five years ago by the performances of Carlos Tevez.

Liverpool signed Suarez from Ajax for £22.7million in January 2011, and the forward went on to become a star at Anfield, before joining Barcelona three years later.

And the 29-year-old says Tevez, who scored 84 goals in the Premier League for West Ham, Manchester United and Manchester City, proved that he would be able to cope with the physicality of English football.

“When I was playing at Ajax, it was Carlitos Tevez who inspired me to try to play in the Premier League,” he told ESPN.

“I would watch him and I would think, ‘If Carlitos can do that, why can’t I? He is tiny against all those defenders.'”

Since moving to Barcelona, Suarez has scored 81 goals in all competitions and is currently on the brink of beating Cristiano Ronaldo to the Pichichi Trophy, awarded to the top scorer in La Liga at the end of every season.

The Uruguay international is currently four goals ahead of the Real Madrid star with one match remaining of the current campaign, and heaped praise on his Barcelona team-mates for his form.

“The entire team deserves the credit for my streak,” he said. “Now my team-mates look for me because they know I am in the running.

“Leo [Messi] and Ney[mar] give me the penalty kicks. That shows that the team sees what I am capable of over these last few games and they want me to score.”

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I was treated like a hooligan for bite, claims Suarez

Luis Suarez says that he was treated “worse than a hooligan” after his bite on Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini at the 2014 World Cup.

The Uruguay striker Suarez bit the Juventus defender in the group stages of the 2014 tournament, with the then-Liverpool forward subsequently banned for the next four months by FIFA.

Suarez, who moved to Barcelona that same summer, was prevented from even training during his four-month exile, and was also banned for nine Uruguay matches.

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