Well on his way to international stardom, Luis Suarez became known across every continent during the 2010 World Cup. It wasn't, however, exactly for the reasons he had hoped.
Then 23 years old and playing for Uruguay, Suarez used his hands to stop a Ghana shot that was heading toward a wide-open net. He was given a red card, but Asamoah Gyan missed the penalty kick and Uruguay advanced.
With some time to properly reflect on the events of last July, Suarez said he understands the international uproar he caused.
"As time has gone by, I have had time to reflect on the whole episode, and I can now understand the controversy that it has caused," Suarez told Liverpool Echo. "It was something that happened in the heat of the moment."
The handball wasn't the last time Suarez has found himself at the center of controversy. While playing for Ajax three months ago, Suarez bit Otman Bakkal on the shoulder. Like the handball, it's something Suarez attributed to being in the heat of the moment.
"Normally I'm calm," Suarez told the site, "but I was a little tired. I'd done a lot of traveling."
Those travels now have him with Liverpool, where at just 24 years old, he brings a lifetime of experience.
