Uruguayan footballer Luis Suárez announced his retirement from international football via a news conference on Monday, saying he would step away from international duty after his team’s upcoming 2026 World Cup qualifier against Paraguay on Friday.

The former Liverpool FC and FC Barcelona star, who is now playing for Inter Miami CF in the US, departs as Uruguay’s all-time leading scorer with 69 goals in 142 games.

Suárez made his senior debut for Uruguay on February 8, 2007, in a 3-1 victory against Colombia and soon became an integral part of the squad. By 2010, he had featured in 19 of the 20 World Cup qualifying matches to secure a spot in Uruguay’s squad for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

The 37-year-old forward played a pivotal role in his first of four World Cups, starting five of Uruguay’s six matches. During the quarter-final against Ghana, he committed an infamous handball in the final moments of the game which gave Ghana a chance to win the game with a penalty. Though Suárez was sent off, Asamoah Gyan missed the attempt and Uruguay went on to win the match via a penalty shootout and advance to the semi-finals, where they lost to the Netherlands.

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Suárez featured in three other World Cups in 2014, 2018, and 2022 as well as the 2011, 2016, 2019, 2021, and 2024 Copas América.

In the 2011 Copa América final, he scored the opening goal in Uruguay’s 3-0 win over Paraguay to put his side en route to their 15th major tournament triumph.

An emotional Luis Suárez said the following during the news conference on Monday: 

“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. 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.

“For me individually, it is very helpful for me 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.

“I was lucky to win many titles in my career, but I would not change the Copa América title (2011) for anything in the world. That Copa América trophy in 2011 was the most beautiful moment I experienced in my career as a professional player. I would not change it for anything and look, I won a lot of other things.”