World football icons Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez are taking their business relationship off the pitch and into the boardroom. The long-time teammates who played at FC Barcelona and now at Inter Miami are coming together as co-founders of an entirely new professional soccer club in Uruguay.

Suárez announced the big news through social media on Tuesday, May 27, disclosing that he has formally renamed his old side, Deportivo LS, to LSM FC, representing the union of Luis Suárez and Lionel Messi. The newly named club will make its inaugural appearance in Uruguay's fourth division of football.

LSM FC: A Family Dream Turned Reality

Lionel Messi, Luis Suárez Launch Pro Soccer Club LSM FC Lionel Messi, Luis Suárez Launch Pro Soccer Club LSM FC
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Suárez told the story of the club's history as the fulfillment of a family dream. It started in 2018 when he and his family established a 20-acre sports complex on the outskirts of Ciudad de la Costa, which is just beyond Montevideo.

The complex now accommodates more than 3,000 members and features a synthetic turf stadium with room for 1,400 spectators, as well as other fields and multi-sport facilities.

"Deportivo LS is a family dream that began in 2018. We have grown a lot, with more than 3,000 members. I want to offer Uruguayan soccer, the place I love and where I grew up as a child, opportunities and tools for teenagers and children to grow," Suárez said.

Messi Joins as Strategic Partner

Seated alongside Suárez during the announcement video, Lionel Messi was thrilled to be a part of the LSM project. Although his specific role has yet to be publicly articulated, according to ESPN, his reports indicate he will be an active participant in the new undertaking.

The Argentine footballer said that he was happy that Suárez chose him as part of the project.

Their joint venture not only adds star power to the club but also international exposure, as witnessed when the team's official Instagram page achieved more than 40,000 followers in two hours of becoming active.

Álvaro Recoba Appointed as Head Coach

Joining the glamor of the project, Uruguayan football legend Álvaro Recoba will be heading LSM FC as its head coach. Famous for his playmaking genius with Inter Milan and Uruguay's national team, Recoba has a wealth of experience to contribute to the developmental team.

With this step, Luis Suárez and Messi hope that they will inspire the younger talents to play football, especially the young and aspiring players from Uruguay.