Uruguayan striker, Luis Suarez, has officially announced his retirement from international football.
The 37-year-old, visibly emotional, revealed that his final appearance for his country will be in the World Cup qualifier against Paraguay.
Suarez expressed pride in retiring on his terms, emphasising his unwavering dedication to the national team throughout his career. He also shared his mindset and expectations for Friday’s match.
"I want to be relaxed when I play my last game with the national team. I'll be just as excited to play as I was in 2007 when I played for my national team for the first time.”
"Friday will be my last match with the national team. I hope it will be something unforgettable for me, my family, and the fans who make the effort to attend. I’m hoping for a great celebration and a win for Uruguay," said Suárez.
The Uruguayan striker, who was a central figure for La Celeste for many years, explained that his decision to retire was influenced by the emergence of a strong and talented new generation of players on the team.
He expressed a desire to step aside on his own terms, rather than being forced out by injuries.
The news of his retirement prompted an outpouring of reactions from fans and colleagues, including heartfelt words from his friend and teammate, Lionel Messi, who shared his thoughts on Instagram.
The Argentine stars' post wrote: "You’re unique, Luis Suárez, both on and off the field. I care about you a lot," featuring a warm hug with "El Pistolero."
Suárez and Messi were teammates at FC Barcelona from 2014 to 2020, where they forged a close friendship and enjoyed tremendous success together.
Their pinnacle as Blaugrana came in 2015 when they won La Liga, the Copa del Rey, the Champions League, and the Club World Cup. Now, they continue to play together in MLS for Inter Miami.
Despite his illustrious stints with Liverpool and Barcelona, Suárez remains Uruguay's all-time leading scorer, with 69 goals in 142 appearances since his debut against Colombia in February 2007.
He also represented Uruguay in nine major international tournaments, earning the title of the tournament’s best player when he led Uruguay to victory in the 2011 Copa América.
During his retirement announcement, Suárez reflected on the challenging moments of his career, not shying away from discussing the difficult times he faced.
He said: "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."
Suarez was also handed a nine-game international ban and missed the 2015 Copa America.
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