Former Barcelona and Liverpool star Luis Suarez has announced his retirement from international football in an emotional video released on Tuesday, September 3, 2024.
Suarez confirmed that Uruguay’s World Cup qualifier against Paraguay on Saturday, September 7, 2024, will be his final appearance for the national team. With 69 goals in 142 appearances, Suarez is Uruguay’s all-time leading scorer. He made his debut against Colombia in February 2007.
In his retirement announcement, Suarez shared:
“I have been reflecting on this decision and believe now is the right time. I want to enjoy my last game with the national team as much as I did when I first played in 2007. The 19-year-old kid who started his journey is now a seasoned veteran with a rich history with the national team. I will give everything for this team until the very end.”
Suarez’s notable career highlights with Uruguay include the dramatic 2010 FIFA World Cup quarter-final against Ghana, where he was sent off for handling the ball on the goal line. Although Asamoah Gyan missed the subsequent penalty, Uruguay won the shootout to advance to the semi-finals for the first time in 40 years.
In 2011, Suarez led Uruguay to victory in the Copa America in Argentina, finishing as the tournament’s second-top scorer with four goals.
His international career also saw a controversial moment at the 2014 World Cup when he received a four-month ban for biting Italy’s Giorgio Chiellini. Suarez missed the 2015 Copa America due to a nine-game international ban but continued to represent Uruguay in the 2018 and 2022 World Cups and five editions of the Copa America.
