Uruguay Icon Luis Suarez Announces Retirement from International Football
Uruguay football legend Luis Suarez has announced his retirement from international football at the age of 37. The former Liverpool and Barcelona striker confirmed that Friday’s 2026 World Cup qualifier against Paraguay in Montevideo will be his final match for his country.
“Friday will be my last match for my country,” an emotional Suarez stated during a press conference. “It was not an easy decision to make, but I do it with the peace of mind that I will give my maximum until the very last game of my [Uruguay] career.”
Widely regarded as one of the greatest players of his generation, Suarez retires as Uruguay’s all-time top scorer with 69 goals in 142 appearances, having made his debut against Colombia in February 2007.
Suarez has played in nine major international tournaments for Uruguay, including the 2011 Copa America, where he was instrumental in their victory. He scored four times in that tournament, including twice in the semi-finals and once in the final, earning the Player of the Tournament award as Uruguay won the Copa America for the 15th time and the first since 1995.
The Inter Miami forward last represented Uruguay in the 2024 Copa America third-place play-off against Canada, where he scored a last-minute equalizer and successfully converted his penalty in the shootout, securing a third-place finish for his team. However, he was not included in the squad for Uruguay’s recent 1-1 draw against Guatemala in a friendly match.
Suarez’s international career has seen its share of controversies, most notably during the 2010 World Cup when he was sent off in the quarter-finals against Ghana for a deliberate handball that prevented a goal. Uruguay went on to win that match in a penalty shootout, advancing to their first World Cup semi-final since 1970. He also made headlines in the 2014 World Cup after biting Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini, which led to a nine-game ban from international football.
Despite these controversies, Suarez’s impact on the pitch is undeniable, and he will be remembered as one of Uruguay’s greatest-ever players.