Luis Suárez set to play farewell game for Uruguay

Uruguay’s top goal scorer Luis Suárez has announced his retirement from international football. He will play his final game this Friday against Paraguay.

The Inter Miami striker made the announcement on Monday in a press conference.

The former Liverpool and Barcelona star departs as Uruguay’s all-time leading scorer with 69 goals in 142 games.

“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,” an emotional Suarez said on Monday.

“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.

“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.”

The charismatic striker made his international debut again Colombia in 2007. During his 17-year career, he featured in three World Cups – 2014, 2018 and 2022 – as well as the 2011, 2016, 2019, 2021 and 2024 Copa Américas.

He won his first major international trophy in his debut 2011 Copa Américas event, where he scored the opener in the 3-0 win over Paraguay.

Overall, he managed four goals and two assists that year to earn MVP of the tournament.

“I was lucky to win many titles in my career, but I would not change the Copa América title for anything in the world,” Suarez added.

His most recent international appearance came in the Copa América 2024, where he converted a penalty in third place game against Canada.