Luis Suárez, Uruguay’s all-time leading scorer, has officially announced his retirement from the national team, with his final match scheduled for Friday, September 6, 2024, against Paraguay at the Estadio Centenario in Montevideo. The 37-year-old striker made the emotional announcement during a press conference, struggling to hold back tears as he said, ‘It’s hard for me to say this, but it will be my last game with the national team of my country’.Suárez, who has been a key player for Uruguay for over 17 years, cited his age and the difficulty of reaching the next World Cup as primary reasons for his decision. ‘I’m retiring because I want to take a step back, knowing that there are players with great potential. I’m 37 years old, and I know it’s difficult to reach the next World Cup,’ he explained. The forward emphasized that he is retiring on his own terms, stating, ‘I’m retiring because I want to, not because I’ve been forced to’.Throughout his illustrious international career, Suárez has amassed impressive statistics, scoring 69 goals in 142 appearances for Uruguay. He has participated in four World Cups and five Copa América tournaments, with his crowning achievement being the 2011 Copa América title. Suárez has also been known for his controversial moments, including biting incidents involving Giorgio Chiellini, Otman Bakkal, and Branislav Ivanovic.Despite these controversies, Suárez remains a beloved figure in Uruguayan football. He expressed deep gratitude to the fans, his teammates, and particularly to former coach Óscar Tabárez, whom he credits with ‘90% of my career in the national team’. ‘I’m leaving with the peace of mind that I gave everything for the team, I gave my all, and I have nothing to reproach myself for,’ Suárez stated.As he prepares for his final match, Suárez promised to enter the field ‘with the same enthusiasm as I did in my first game in 2007’. The match against Paraguay, which is part of the World Cup 2026 qualifiers, will kick off at 20:30 local time. While this marks the end of Suárez’s international career, he clarified that he is not retiring from professional football, saying he wants to ‘keep enjoying’ the game.
Key points
- Luis Suárez will play his final match for Uruguay on September 6, 2024, against Paraguay.
- Suárez retires as Uruguay’s all-time leading scorer with 69 goals in 142 appearances.
- He cited his age (37) and the difficulty of reaching the next World Cup as reasons for retirement.
- Suárez expressed gratitude to fans, teammates, and former coach Óscar Tabárez.
