Inter Miami star Luis Suarez announced his retirement from the Uruguay national team in a news conference on Monday.
Suarez announces Uruguay retirement
Suarez, 37, capped off his international football career ahead of Uruguay’s World Cup qualifier against Paraguay on Friday.
The former Liverpool and Barcelona stalwart is Uruguay’s all-time leading scorer with 69 goals in 142 games.
“There is no better pride in oneself than knowing when the right moment to retire is. And luckily I am confident that I am retiring from the national team because I want to take a step aside,” said the emotional Suarez. “I am 37 years old and I know that it is very difficult to get to the next World Cup. It comforts me a lot that I can retire and not for my injuries to retire me, or to stop being called up.
“For me individually, it is very helpful for me to want to take that step aside and feel ready. It is difficult because the decision was not easy. But I go with the peace of mind that until the last game I gave my all, and that the flame did not burn out slowly and that is why I made the decision that it should be now.”
Uruguay hero
Suarez made his senior debut for Uruguay in 2007 and quickly became one of the country’s key players.
The forward has participated in four World Cups—in 2010, 2014, 2018, and 2022.
He has also played in five Copa Americas—in 2011, 2016, 2019, 2021, and 2024.
Most notably, Suarez led La Celeste to a 3-0 victory over Paraguay in the 2011 Copa America final.
He scored four goals and provided two assists, earning Tournament MVP honors.
“I was lucky to win many titles in my career, but I would not change the Copa América title for anything in the world,” Suarez added. “That Copa América trophy in 2011 was the most beautiful moment I experienced in my career as a professional player. I would not change it for anything and look, I won a lot of other things.”
