THANK U & GOODNIGHT Luis Suarez breaks down in tears as Liverpool and Barcelona legend confirms Uruguay retirement after 17 years
LUIS SUAREZ announced he will play his last match for Uruguay this week in a teary-eyed press conference on Monday.
The former Liverpool and Barcelona star confirmed he will wave goodbye to international football after Friday’s World Cup qualifier against Paraguay.
2Luis Suarez has confirmed he will play his last match for Uruguay this weekCredit: PA
2Suarez confirmed the news in a teary-eyed press conference on MondayCredit: Reuters
The 37-year-old Suarez said he will approach the game with the same zeal as when he played it for the first time back in 2007.
“I leave knowing that I gave everything I had for the national team until Friday,” he stated. I don’t regret anything.
“There is no better pride in oneself than knowing when the right moment to retire is and luckily I am confident that I am retiring from the national team because I want to take a step aside.”
The experienced striker, who was a member of the Reds from 2011 to 2014, expressed his happiness at retiring on his own terms rather than as a result of an injury.
“I am 37 years old, and I am aware that qualifying for the next World Cup is extremely challenging,” he concluded. The fact that I can retire and that my injuries won’t prevent me from being called up or retiring gives me great peace.
“Having the desire to move away and feeling prepared is highly beneficial. It’s challenging since it wasn’t an easy choice.
“But I go with the peace of mind that until the last game I gave my all, and that the flame did not burn out slowly and that is why I made the decision that it should be now.”
The star Uruguayan has been in four World Cups and was awarded the best player of the competition after winning the Copa America in 2011.
And with Suarez saying he wanted to seal the deal in his native country, Marcelo Bielsa’s team placed third in the Copa America this year.
“That last goal was very nice for them and even though it wasn’t a trophy to take home, it was very nice for them,” he continued. “My dream was for my children to see me win something important with the national team.”
“Yes, I could have retired after winning the Copa America, but after doing some analysis, I want to do it in my stadium, with my people.
“I wish for my kids to go through this. I don’t know how many people have actually said farewell to the folks here.”
Over the course of 17 years and 142 appearances for Uruguay, the forward has scored 69 goals, making him the best scorer in the nation.
On February 8, 2007, Suarez earned his senior debut for Uruguay in a 3-1 victory over Colombia. However, he was dismissed in the 85th minute for dissent after collecting a second yellow card.
Suarez, who joined the MLS squad last year, had previously mentioned that Inter Miami would be his final club. However, he then stated that he would stay there and play with Lionel Messi, his former teammate at Barcelona.
