Luis Suárez announced his retirement from the Uruguay national team during a press conference today, stating that he will step away from international duty following his team’s World Cup qualifier against Paraguay this Friday.
The former Liverpool and Barcelona star, who is currently playing for Inter Miami in Major League Soccer (MLS), finishes his international career as Uruguay’s all-time leading scorer, netting 69 goals in 142 appearances over 17 years.
“There is no greater pride than knowing when the right moment to retire is, and I am confident that I am making this decision because I want to take a step back,” an emotional Suárez expressed during the news conference.
At 37 years old, he acknowledged the difficulty of reaching another World Cup and expressed relief at being able to retire on his own terms rather than due to injury or lack of selection. “This decision was not easy, but I can leave knowing that I gave my all until the last game and that the flame did not slowly burn out,” he added.
Suárez made his senior debut for Uruguay on February 8, 2007, in a 3-1 win against Colombia, quickly becoming a key player. By 2010, he had participated in 19 of the 20 World Cup qualifying matches to ensure Uruguay’s place in the tournament held in South Africa.
He was instrumental in his first World Cup, starting five of Uruguay’s six matches. In a memorable quarterfinal against Ghana, Suárez was famously sent off for a handball that denied a last-minute goal, leading to a missed penalty shot by Asamoah Gyan. Uruguay ultimately triumphed in the penalty shootout and advanced to the semifinals, a moment Suárez still defends as “the best save of the tournament.”
Suárez appeared in three additional World Cups in 2014, 2018, and 2022, as well as participating in multiple Copa América tournaments. Notably, in the 2011 Copa América, he scored the first goal in the final against Paraguay, helping Uruguay secure its 15th major title.
“I was fortunate to win many titles in my career, but I would not trade the Copa América title for anything in the world,” Suárez remarked, recalling it as the pinnacle of his professional career.
His last international match was in the 2024 Copa América for a third-place clash against Canada, where he contributed to his team’s victory by scoring a penalty in the shootout.
On the club level, Suárez joined Inter Miami, which also features stars such as Lionel Messi, Jordi Alba, and Sergio Busquets, ahead of the 2024 MLS season. He is currently thriving with the team, scoring twice in their recent 4-1 win against Chicago Fire FC, bringing his season total to 16 goals.