Luis Suarez Announces His Retirement From International Football

Uruguay legend Luis Suarez has announced his retirement from international football in an emotional farewell.

The Inter Miami striker broke down in tears as he told the press that Saturday’s World Cup qualifier against Paraguay would be his last appearance for Uruguay.

Suarez is his nation’s all-time leading goalscorer. The former Ajax, Liverpool, Atletico Madrid and Barcelona star has scored 69 goals in 142 caps for his country.

He made his debut as a 20-year-old in February 2007, when he was sent off in a 3-1 win over Colombia.

But now 37, Suarez has chosen to call time on his illustrious international career.

Luis Suarez On His International Retirement

Speaking to journalists ahead of his final game this weekend, Suarez reflected on his long Uruguay career.

He said: “I’ve been thinking about this and analysing this. I believe this is the right time.

“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.

“That 19-year-old kid is now a veteran player, an older player – however you want to call it – with an incredible history with the national team, that will give his life for the team.”

In total, Suarez took part in nine major tournaments for his country.

Luis Suarez Controversies

Often caught up in controversy for his clubs, he was not free from scandal on the international stage, either.

In 2010, Suarez was sent off in the World Cup quarter-final for a deliberate handball which prevented Ghana from an extra-time winner.

Ghana missed the resulting penalty, with Uruguay progressing to the semi’s for the first time in four decades.

And four years later, he was given a four-month suspension after biting Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini in the group stages.

Suarez received another ban in 2015, missing the Copa America that year.

Discussing the various incidents, Suarez 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.”

He would later play in both the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, as well as a total of five Copa Americas.

MSN – Messi, Suarez, Neymar

It is undoubtedly his time at Barcelona that saw Luis Suarez at his peak.

Making up one third of perhaps the most potent attacking trio in football history, the combination of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar was at one time simply unstoppable.

Nicknamed ‘MSN’, the South American combination ed a ridiculous 364 goals and 173 assists between them in 450 games for Barcelona.

In three seasons from 2014-17, they won absolutely everything. The trio helped Barca lift the Champions League, La Liga, UEFA Super Cup, Copa del Rey, FIFA Club World Cup and Super Copa de Espana.

While he was a polarising figure, Luis Suarez’s retirement marks the end of a stellar international career.

One of the greatest goal scorers in modern football, he leaves a legacy of skill, ion and ferocious competitive drive.