Luis Suárez announced his retirement from international football on Monday, marking the end of a remarkable 17-year career with the national team. At 37 years old, Suárez leaves the sport as Uruguay’s all-time leading scorer, having netted an impressive 69 goals in 142 appearances.
Suárez made his debut for the Uruguay national team in 2007, quickly establishing himself as a vital player. He played a significant role in the squad that reached the semi-finals of the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa and was instrumental in securing the Copa América title in 2011. These achievements solidified his place as one of the most influential figures in Uruguayan football history.
During an emotional press conference, Suárez expressed his decision to retire on his own terms, a choice that provided him with a sense of peace. “Friday will be my last match with my country’s national team,” Suárez said. “The fact that this is my decision to retire, and that I’m not retiring because of injuries or because they stopped calling me for one reason or another, gives me a lot of comfort. It helps me individually.”
Reflecting on his career, Suárez noted that he had given his all for the national team until the very end. “It’s difficult, but it gives me peace of mind that until the last game, I have given my all, and that flame has not been extinguished little by little,” he added.
😞 “𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐚́ 𝐦𝐢 𝐮́𝐥𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐨 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐝𝐨 𝐜𝐨𝐧 𝐥𝐚 𝐒𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐜𝐢𝐨́𝐧”
Luis Suárez confirmó en conferencia que se retira de 𝐿𝑎 𝐶𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑠𝑡𝑒.
📺 https://t.co/qVMBrYJR1J #ElEquipoQueNosUne pic.twitter.com/oRuiJVUBz0
— Selección Uruguaya (@Uruguay) September 2, 2024
Uruguay is set to face Paraguay on Friday at the Centenario Stadium in Montevideo, as part of the South American qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup. This match will be Suárez’s final appearance in the iconic sky-blue jersey. Uruguay will also play against Venezuela four days later, though Suárez will not participate in that fixture.
Suárez’s most recent contribution to the national team came in July when he scored a stoppage-time goal against Canada, securing third place for Uruguay in the Copa América. Reflecting on that moment, Suárez shared that one of his primary motivations was to prove that he could still make valuable contributions to the team. “My dream was for my children to see me win something important with the national team… that last goal was very nice for them, and even though it wasn’t a trophy to take home, it was very nice for them,” he said.
Suárez acknowledged that he could have chosen to retire after the Copa América, but the desire to say goodbye in front of his home crowd, in a stadium where he had experienced so many memorable moments, influenced his decision to play one final match. “I wanted to show people again that I can continue to contribute to the national team, and, well, I had the Copa América, and yes, I could have done it [retired] perfectly after that, but having analyzed the situation, I want to do it with my people, in my stadium. I want my children to live this experience. Saying goodbye with the people here is something that I don’t know if many have done.”
In addition to his international retirement, Suárez has confirmed that he will also be concluding his club career with Inter Miami, the Major League Soccer (MLS) team he joined last year. At Inter Miami, Suárez reunited with former Barcelona teammates Lionel Messi, Sergio Busquets, and Jordi Alba, creating one of the most talked-about lineups in recent football history.
