Historic striker Luis Suárez announced his retirement from the Uruguayan national team at the age of 37 on Monday in an emotional press conference at the Centenario Stadium in Montevideo.
“It’s hard for me to say it, but Friday will be my last match with my country’s national team,” said the top scorer for La Celeste, in tears.
Their last official match will be next Friday, when Uruguay host Paraguay at the Centenario Stadium for the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers. Later, La Celeste will travel to Venezuela for the second match of this double FIFA date, which will be played on Tuesday, September 10 at the Estadio Monumental de Maturín.
Suárez, Uruguay’s top scorer with 69 goals, said that his retirement from the national team “is something I had been thinking about” and that he has his reasons. “It’s difficult, but it’s time,” he stressed.
“I am 37 years old and I know that it is very difficult to get to the next World Cup. The fact that I am retiring and not the injuries is a great comfort to me,” he added.
He did clarify, however, that he is retiring from the national team but not from professional football, as he believes he wants to “continue enjoying” the playing field a little longer.
For the match against Paraguay, it is very likely that Suárez will be in the starting eleven of coach Marcelo Bielsa following Darwin Núñez’s penalty. The Liverpool striker, a key player for Bielsa, is suspended by Conmebol for the incidents that occurred after the defeat against Colombia in the semi-finals of the Copa América, as well as Rodrigo Bentancur, Mathías Olivera, Ronald Araújo and José María Giménez.
If so, Lucho assured that he will continue to give his best and play with the “same enthusiasm” he had when he debuted with the senior team in 2007.
“I can play that last game with the national team with peace of mind, I’m going to play it with the same enthusiasm, with the same desire that that kid had when he started at 19,” he said.
The striker, who interrupted the press conference on several occasions due to tears, stressed that he was leaving with the “peace of mind” that he had given his all for his national team.
“I have nothing to reproach myself for at any time and what I do want to thank is each and every one of the Uruguayan fans,” he added.
At 37 years of age, ‘Lucho’ has played a total of 142 matches for the Celeste, in which he scored 69 goals and provided 39 assists. Since his debut with the senior team on February 7, 2007, Suárez has participated in five qualifying processes, four World Cups and five Copa Américas, of which he was crowned champion in 2011 and was chosen as the best player.
In his footballing career, the current striker, who is experiencing a great moment at Inter Miami, has a historic stint at Barcelona between 2014 and 2020, in addition to having played in the ranks of Dutch Ajax (2007-2011), English Liverpool (2011-2014), Atlético de Madrid (2020-2022) and Brazilian Gremio (2023-2024).
“I hope that people will remember all the great moments that I experienced here in my stadium” and that “they will remember the Luis Suárez who was a giving, generous player who today can have the pride and privilege of being the top scorer in this country,” he added.
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– 2024-09-06 10:17:41
