Uruguay star Suarez announces retirement from national team

Uruguay striker Luis Suarez has announced his retirement, ending his 17-year run as the country’s top scorer with 69 goals.

The 37-year-old, who has 142 caps for his country, made his international debut in 2007 and was a key figure in the team’s run to the semi-finals of the 2010 World Cup, before winning the Copa America a year later.

“Friday will be my last game for my country,” an emotional Suarez told a news conference on Monday.

“The fact that I decided to retire and I wasn’t retiring because of an injury or that they stopped calling me for one thing or another, that gave me a lot of comfort and helped me personally.

“It was difficult, but it gave me peace of mind that I gave it my all until the last game and that fire didn’t go out one bit.”

Uruguay will face 2026 World Cup South American qualifiers Paraguay at Montevideo’s Centenario Stadium on Friday, before hosting Venezuela four days later.

Suarez scored a stoppage-time goal against Canada at the Copa America in July to help his side finish third, and the striker added that one of his goals is to prove he can continue to do what he can for his country. Make a contribution.

“My dream is for my children to see me win something important with the national team… The goal at the end was very good for them, even though it was not a trophy to take home, but It’s very good for them,” he said.

“I want to show people again that I can continue to contribute to the national team, and, I played in the Copa America, and yes, I can do it perfectly after that (retirement), but after analyzing the situation, I want to do it with my people, in my stadium.

“I want my kids to be able to go through this experience. Saying goodbye to people here is something I don’t know if a lot of people have done.”

Suarez has said Inter Miami will be his first choice after joining MLS last year, reuniting him with former Barcelona team-mates Lionel Messi, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba. The last club.