SportsLuis Suárez announces emotional retirement from national team

Luis Suárez announces emotional retirement from national team

The goal-scoring striker has played for the Uruguay national team since 2007. After 17 years, he announced the end of his career with the national team. Luis Suárez conveyed this with difficulty at a press conference.

A moved Luis Suarez during the press conference
A moved Luis Suarez during the press conference
Images source: © X | Uruguay
Sebastian Szczytkowski

3 September 2024 14:11

Luis Suárez is the most effective player in the Uruguay national team's history. Since his debut in 2007, he has scored 68 goals for them. The biggest success for the Celestes, with Luis Suárez in the lineup, was winning the Copa America in 2011. Meanwhile, the Uruguay national team won bronze medals in this year's Copa America tournament.

Already last year, plagued by injuries, Luis Suárez slowly withdrew from international football. This week, it became clear that in 2024, the 37-year-old player will play his last match for Uruguay.

The special event will occur on September 7 at the Estadio Centenario in Montevideo. Uruguay will face Paraguay, and the stakes of the match will be points in the World Cup qualifiers. Surely, Luis Suárez will remember his farewell match for a long time. Already a few days before it, the striker is overwhelmed with emotions.

Luis Suárez was deeply moved at the press conference. He struggled to hold back his emotions when he confirmed that he was saying goodbye to the Uruguay national team. Tears appeared in the player's eyes.

It hurts to say it, but Friday will be my last match with my country’s national team. I am retiring because I want to step aside. I am 37 years old, there are a lot of talented players, and I know it would be difficult to get to the next World Cup. It is comforting to know I can retire on my terms and not have to retire due to injuries, or to not being called up. I want to say goodbye here, with my people. This is the ideal moment, said Luis Suarez.

The striker represented Uruguay in four World Cups. He admitted that it would be difficult for him to make it to the next World Cup, which will be held in 2026. He will focus on playing for Inter Miami, where he plays alongside his friend Lionel Messi.

  • CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - AUGUST 31: Luis Suárez #9 of Inter Miami celebrates after scoring his first goal of the game in the second half against the Chicago Fire at Soldier Field on August 31, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)
  • LAS PALMAS, SPAIN - AUGUST 28: Scott Mckenna of UD Las Palmas hugs his teammate Alex Suarez of UD Las Palmas  during the La Liga match between UD Las Palmas and Real Madrid CF at Estadio Gran Canaria on August 28, 2024 in Las Palmas, Spain. (Photo by Gabriel Jimenez/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images)
  • MONTEVIDEO, URUGUAY - SEPTEMBER 2: Luis Suarez speaks during a press conference to announce his retirement from the Uruguayan national team at the Centenario stadium in Montevideo, Uruguay on 02 September 2024. Uruguay's all-time leading goalscorer has announced that he will play his final match for the national team this Friday against Paraguay in Montevideo in the South American qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup North America-2026. (Photo by Guillermo Legaria/Anadolu via Getty Images)
  • MONTEVIDEO, URUGUAY - SEPTEMBER 02: Luis Suarez gestures during a press conference to announce his retirement form the Uruguayan National team at Estadio Centenario on September 02, 2024 in Montevideo, Uruguay. (Photo by Ernesto Ryan/Getty Images)
[1/4] CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - AUGUST 31: Luis Suárez #9 of Inter Miami celebrates after scoring his first goal of the game in the second half against the Chicago Fire at Soldier Field on August 31, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)Images source: © GETTY | Patrick McDermott
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