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Star Uruguayan footballer on Monday, September 2 confirmed his retirement from international football. The Uruguayan forward, who will call it quits after his national side’s FIFA World Cup qualifiers, scheduled to take place on Saturday, September 7 (IST) against Paraguay, boasts of an impressive tally of 69 goals, making him Uruguay’s all-time leading goal-scorer.
The veteran forward, who confirmed that the upcoming match will be his last for the side, has made 142 appearances for Uruguay across his 17 years career since his debut in 2007. Notably, he even led Uruguay to the 2010 World Cup semifinals, followed by their triumphant Copa America campaign the following year.
I am retiring from the national team because I want to take a step aside: Suarez
The 37-year-old addressed a press conference on Monday, September 2 to announce his decision, calling it “right moment to retire”. He also clarified that “Friday will be my last match with my country’s national team”. "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...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," Suarez said in the press conference.
"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," Suarez added.
Watch Suarez get emotional while announcing retirement:
It is to be noted that Suarez’s iconic moments came during the 2010 World Cup quarterfinal against Ghana. Suarez committed an infamous handball on the goal line to prevent Ghana from scoring. Although, Suarez was handed a red card following the incident, but Ghana’s Asamoah Gyan missed the penalty with Uruguay going on to win the match in a dramatic shootout.
However, his most recent appearance for Uruguay came at the 2024 Copa America third-place match against Canada. He even found himself in the scoresheet, getting to the back of the net in a penalty shootout to help the side secure a win. The 37-year-old, who also plays for Inter Miami, alongside Lionel Messi, however, will continue to focus on his club career in the Major League Football.
