Luis Suárez has officially announced his retirement from the Uruguay national team during a press conference today, stating that he will step down from international play following the World Cup qualifier against Paraguay on Friday. The former Liverpool and Barcelona forward, now playing for Inter Miami in Major League Soccer (MLS), leaves a remarkable legacy as Uruguay’s all-time leading scorer, with 69 goals in 142 appearances over 17 years.
At 37 years old, Suárez expressed his belief in knowing the right moment to retire. He shared that he is stepping away from the national team on his terms, rather than due to injuries or being excluded from selection. “The decision was not easy,” he said, “but I retire with the peace of mind that I gave my all until the last game.”
Suárez made his senior international debut on February 8, 2007, in a match against Colombia and quickly established himself as an essential player for the team. He played a crucial role in qualifying Uruguay for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, participating in 19 out of 20 qualifying matches.
During his first World Cup, Suárez started in five of Uruguay’s six matches. In a memorable quarterfinal against Ghana, he infamously handled the ball, preventing a potential goal. Although he was sent off, Ghana missed the resulting penalty, and Uruguay advanced through a shootout.
He has played in three additional World Cups—2014, 2018, and 2022—as well as multiple Copa América tournaments, contributing to Uruguay’s 15th major title in 2011 by scoring in the final against Paraguay. Suárez was named MVP that year for his impressive performance.
His last international game was the 2024 Copa América third-place match against Canada, where he successfully scored a penalty in the shootout to help secure victory for his team.
Currently playing for Inter Miami, Suárez is thriving alongside stars like Lionel Messi, Jordi Alba, and Sergio Busquets. He recently scored twice in a 4-1 victory over Chicago Fire FC, bringing his season total to 16 goals.