Uruguayan football legend Luis Suarez announced on Monday that he will retire from international football, with his final match being Friday’s 2026 World Cup qualifier against Paraguay in Montevideo. The former star of Barcelona and Liverpool, who is considered one of the best players of his era, will end his international career as Uruguay’s all-time leading scorer with 69 goals in 142 matches.
A dynamic and skillful attacker with a sharp instinct for scoring, Luis Suarez was frequently surrounded by controversy. In addition to the biting incident that prematurely ended his 2014 World Cup participation in Brazil, Suarez was also infamous for his actions during the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, where his deliberate handball on the goal line prevented Ghana from scoring a late winner in the quarter-finals. Although Suarez was sent off, Ghana missed the subsequent penalty, allowing Uruguay to advance to the semi-finals after a penalty shoot-out.
Controversy followed Luis Suarez throughout his club career as well. Notably, in 2011, he received an eight-game ban in England for allegedly racially abusing Manchester United’s Patrice Evra. Despite these controversies, Suarez played a key role in helping Uruguay qualify for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups. He also participated in the 2023 Copa America, primarily as a substitute under coach Marcelo Bielsa, scoring his 69th international goal in a third-place play-off victory against Canada.
Luis Suarez’s International Career
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The South American had a highly successful and eventful international career with the Uruguay national team, spanning from his debut in 2007 until his retirement in 2023. His International debut was against Colombia on February 7th,2007.
Luis Suarez had a distinguished international career with the Uruguay national team, marked by significant individual achievements and team success. He became Uruguay’s all-time top scorer with 69 goals in 142 appearances, a testament to his lethal finishing and skill. Luis Suarez was instrumental in Uruguay’s victory at the 2011 Copa América, where he not only helped his team lift the trophy but was also named the Player of the Tournament for his outstanding performances, including scoring four goals, one of which came in the final against Paraguay.
Luis Suarez’s career also saw him play in four FIFA World Cups (2010, 2014, 2018, and 2022) and several Copa América tournaments, further solidifying his legacy as one of Uruguay’s greatest footballers. Despite the controversies that sometimes overshadowed his career, Suarez’s contributions on the pitch, including his role in securing a fourth-place finish at the 2010 World Cup, remain unforgettable.
What Luis Suarez Said
Luis Suarez expressed that there is “no greater pride” than choosing to step aside on his terms. He emphasized that he takes comfort in retiring by his own decision, rather than being forced out by injuries. In an emotional press conference on Monday, Suarez announced that Friday would be his final match with the Uruguay national team.
He stated that there is no greater pride than knowing when the right time to retire has come, and he feels confident in his decision to step aside. At 37 years old, Suarez acknowledged that reaching the next World Cup would be difficult, and he’s relieved that he can retire without being sidelined by injuries or overlooked for selection.
He also mentioned that the decision to retire was challenging, but he finds peace in knowing that he gave his all until the very end and that his passion for the game did not fade. Suarez, Uruguay’s all-time leading scorer with 69 goals in 142 games, made his debut for the national team in 2007 under manager Oscar Tabarez, and Friday’s match will be his 143rd and final appearance.
