Uruguay’s football icon Luis Suarez has announced his retirement from international football, bringing an end to an illustrious career that has seen him become one of the most prolific and controversial players of his generation. Suarez, 37, confirmed his decision in an emotional press conference on Monday, revealing that his final appearance for the national team would be Friday’s 2026 World Cup qualifier against Paraguay in Montevideo.
“Friday will be my last match for my country,” said Suarez, holding back tears. “It was not an easy decision to make, but I do it with the peace of mind that I will give my maximum until the very last game of my (Uruguay) career.”
Suarez’s retirement marks the conclusion of a remarkable 16-year journey with La Celeste that began in 2007. Over his career, he has earned 142 caps and scored 69 goals, making him Uruguay’s all-time leading scorer. His contribution to the national team has been substantial, highlighted by his role in Uruguay’s triumphant 2011 Copa America campaign, where he was named the player of the tournament.
“I wouldn’t trade the Copa America title for anything,” Suarez reflected. “It was the best moment of my career. I wouldn’t trade it for anything.”
Suarez’s talent and dedication on the pitch made him one of the most feared strikers in world football. Known for his dynamic style, skill, and a lethal eye for goal, he was instrumental in Uruguay’s successes at multiple international tournaments, including the 2010 and 2014 World Cups. However, his career has also been marked by a series of controversies that have often overshadowed his achievements.
The most infamous incident occurred during the 2014 World Cup in Brazil when Suarez was handed a four-month ban for biting Italy’s Giorgio Chiellini, an episode that shocked the football world. This wasn’t the first time Suarez’s actions had made headlines. In the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, Suarez was sent off in the quarter-finals against Ghana for a deliberate handball on the goal line that denied Ghana a late winner. His sacrifice paid off when Ghana missed the resulting penalty, and Uruguay advanced to the semi-finals after a dramatic penalty shoot-out.
Controversy also followed Suarez in his club career, notably during his time at Liverpool. In 2011, he received an eight-game ban for allegedly racially abusing Manchester United’s Patrice Evra, an incident that left a lasting impact on his reputation. Despite these setbacks, Suarez continued to excel on the field, with successful stints at top clubs including Ajax, Liverpool, Barcelona, and Atletico Madrid. He is currently playing for Inter Miami in Major League Soccer.
As Suarez prepares to hang up his international boots, his legacy remains a complex tapestry of brilliant footballing achievements and high-profile controversies. Yet, his contributions to Uruguay’s national team are indisputable. Beyond the numbers and the headlines, Suarez has been a symbol of relentless ambition and a key figure in one of Uruguay’s most successful football eras.
In his final years, Suarez continued to contribute to Uruguay’s efforts, helping the team qualify for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups and featuring in the 2024 Copa America, where he was used primarily as a substitute under coach Marcelo Bielsa. His final international goal, his 69th, came in a third-place play-off victory over Canada.
Suarez leaves behind a legacy that is as colorful as it is controversial, but above all, he will be remembered as one of Uruguay’s greatest footballers, a player who wore his heart on his sleeve and gave everything for his country. As he steps off the international stage, football fans around the world will reflect on the career of a player who, for better or worse, never failed to make an impact.
