Luis Suarez’s national team career only lasts one more game. On Monday (local time), the 37-year-old announced his retirement
On Friday (local time) in the World Cup qualifier against Paraguay in Montevideo, Luis Suarez will play his 143rd international match – and also his last. The 37-year-old striker announced his retirement at a press conference.
“It’s hard for me to say, but it will be my last game with my country’s Seleccion. I’ve been thinking about it for a long time and now is the right time,” said Suarez, his voice choked with tears.
Copa America triumph in 2011, but only a wild card in the end
“I gave everything for the national team,” he said: “But I’m 37 years old and the next World Cup is still a long way off.” The polarizing attacker made his debut for his country in 2007 and has since scored 69 goals in the national jersey, making him Uruguay’s record goalscorer. In 2011, the underdogs with a population of just 3.4 million sensationally won the Copa America. The team finished fourth at the 2010 World Cup.
Suarez, who also has unsportsmanlike conduct such as biting Giorgio Chiellini in 2014 on his CV, has been struggling with knee problems for some time now. This was one of the reasons why he only played as a reserve behind Darwin in the latest edition of the Copa America. Suarez did not talk about the end of his career at club level on Monday. He will therefore continue to play alongside Lionel Messi at Inter Miami for a while longer.
