On Monday, Uruguayan forward Luis Suarez revealed that he will be retiring from international football, concluding a remarkable 17-year journey as the top scorer for his country with a total of 69 goals.

The 37-year-old player, who has worn the national jersey 142 times, made his debut back in 2007. He played a vital role in helping Uruguay reach the semifinals of the 2010 World Cup and secure victory at the Copa America the following year.

In a heartfelt press conference, Suarez shared, “This Friday will be my final match representing my nation.”

“I take comfort in the fact that it is my decision to retire, rather than being forced out due to injuries or being dropped from the team. This brings me peace personally.”

“It’s a tough decision, but I take solace in knowing that I have given my all right up until the end, and that passion for the game hasn’t faded away,” the forward noted.

Uruguay will face Paraguay at the Centenario stadium in Montevideo this Friday as part of the South American qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup, before matching up against Venezuela four days later.

In July, Suarez scored a last-minute goal against Canada, securing third place for Uruguay in the Copa America. He mentioned that one of his goals was to demonstrate that he could still be an asset to the national team.

“My dream was for my children to witness me winning something significant with the national team that last goal was special for them, and even though it wasn’t a trophy, it meant a lot,” he reflected.

“I aimed to showcase to everyone that I can still contribute to the national team. While I could have retired after the Copa America, I preferred to take my leave in front of my supporters, in my home stadium.”

“I want my children to share in this moment. Bidding farewell to the fans here is a rare experience that not many get to have.”

Suarez also stated that his time with Inter Miami will be his final club stint, having joined the MLS team last year to reunite with former Barcelona teammates Lionel Messi, Sergio Busquets, and Jordi Alba.

This season, Suarez is competing for the MLS Golden Boot, having scored 16 goals so far, placing him in second alongside Denis Bouanga from Los Angeles FC, just one goal behind the leaders, Cristian Arango of Real Salt Lake and Christian Benteke of D.C. United.