Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez, 37, has announced his retirement from international football, with the upcoming World Cup qualifier against Paraguay set to be his final match for his country. Suarez, Uruguay’s all-time leading scorer with 69 goals in 142 appearances, debuted against Colombia in February 2007. Reflecting on his decision, Suarez said, “I believe this is the right time… I’ll be just as excited to play as I was in 2007 when I played for my national team for the first time.”
Over his 16-year international career, Suarez played in nine major tournaments for Uruguay, leaving an indelible mark. His controversial handball in the dying moments of the 2010 World Cup quarter-final against Ghana helped Uruguay reach the semi-finals for the first time in 40 years. He also led Uruguay to Copa America glory in 2011, finishing as the tournament’s second-highest scorer with four goals.
However, Suarez’s career has also been marked by controversy. In the 2014 World Cup, he scored twice to defeat England in the group stage but faced a four-month ban for biting Italy’s Giorgio Chiellini, which resulted in a nine-game international ban and his absence from the 2015 Copa America. Despite the setbacks, Suarez returned to play in the 2018 and 2022 World Cups and participated in five editions of the Copa America.
Reflecting on his tumultuous yet successful career, Suarez stated, “We did go through difficult moments. There were many… Personally, it was worse for me after my massive mistake in 2014. But there’s nothing that I would reproach.” As Suarez prepares to take his final bow, his journey from a 19-year-old debutant to a seasoned veteran remains a testament to his passion and commitment to the Uruguayan national team.
