Uruguay's top striker, Luis Suarez, declared his retirement from international football on Monday, bringing an end to his 17-year tenure with the national team where he scored 69 goals. At 37 years old, with 142 appearances for Uruguay, Suarez began his international journey in 2007 and played a pivotal role in leading the team to the 2010 World Cup semifinals and winning the Copa America in 2011.
An emotional Suarez announced at a press conference, "Friday will mark my final game with the Uruguayan national team." He expressed comfort in his decision, stating, "It's my choice to retire, not due to injuries or being overlooked, which brings me personal satisfaction." Suarez continued, "It's challenging, yet it brings me peace knowing I've given my all until the end, and that passion hasn't dwindled."
Uruguay is set to play Paraguay at the Centenario stadium in Montevideo on Friday, followed by a match against Venezuela in the South American qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup. Suarez scored a crucial goal in stoppage time against Canada during the Copa America in July, which secured third place, and he emphasized his desire to continue contributing to the national team.
Suarez shared, "My aspiration was for my children to witness me winning a significant title with the national team... that last goal was special for them, even though it wasn't a trophy to bring home." He added, "I aimed to demonstrate my ongoing ability to contribute to the team, and after considering the situation, I decided to retire in my stadium, among my people." Suarez plans to make Inter Miami his final club, joining the Major League Soccer team last year to reunite with former Barcelona teammates Lionel Messi, Sergio Busquets, and Jordi Alba.
