Liverpool and Barcelona great Luis Suarez has called time on his international career in an emotional press conference.
Suarez confirmed Uruguay’s World Cup qualifier against Paraguay in Montevideo on Friday would be his 143rd and final cap for his nation.
The 37-year-old held back tears as he made the announcement and took ‘pride’ in retiring on his own terms.
“I leave with the peace of mind that I gave everything for the national team until Friday,” Suarez said.
“I have no regrets. 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.”
Suarez added: “I am 37 years old and I know that it is very difficult to get to the next World Cup. It comforts me a lot that I can retire and not for my injuries to retire me, or to stop being called up.
“It is very helpful to want to take that step aside and feel ready. It is difficult because the decision was not easy.
“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.”
Suarez conceded he could have called time on his international career after the 2024 Copa America, but wanted to have one final game in front of Uruguay’s fans.
“My dream was for my children to see me win something important with the national team… 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,” Suarez said.
“I wanted to show people again that I can continue to contribute to the national team and, well, I had the Copa America and yes, I could have done it perfectly after that, but having analysed the situation, I want to do it with my people, in my stadium.
“I want my children to live this experience. Saying goodbye with the people here is something that I don’t know if many have done.”
IShowSpeed met Inter Miami team in Cristiano Ronaldo Al Nassr shirt and got Luis Suarez and Sergio Busquets’ names wrong whilst Lionel Messi and CR7 were absent.
Suarez will retire as Uruguay’s all-time leading goalscorer with 69 goals from 142 games, 11 more than Edinson Cavani who is second on the list.
The Inter Miami striker also sits second on the list for most appearances for Uruguay, with Diego Godin sitting first on 161 caps.
The 37-year-old competed in four World Cups and helped Uruguay win the 2011 Copa America, where he was named as the best player of the tournament.
The 37-year-old’s most iconic moment in a Uruguay shirt came at the 2010 World Cup
Luis Suarez’s Uruguay career in numbers
Appearances: 142 (Second-most for Uruguay)Goals: 69 (Most for Uruguay)Team of the tournament at 2010 World CupCopa America winner in 2011Player of the tournament at 2011 Copa America.
However, his most memorable contribution in an Uruguay shirt came during their quarter final at the 2010 World Cup when he saved the ball with his hands to stop Dominic Adiyiah from scoring what would have been the winner from Ghana.
A penalty was awarded and Suarez was sent off, but Asamoah Gyan missed from the spot.
Uruguay went on to win the match after a 4-2 triumph in the shootout but lost 3-2 to the Netherlands in the semi finals.
Suarez was in another controversial moment at a World Cup when he bit Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini in 2014.
The striker copped a four-month suspension and a nine-game international ban from FIFA as a result of the bite.
