Liverpool and Barcelona icon Luis Suarez confirmed he will play his final game for Uruguay this week in a tearful press conference on Monday.
Suarez said he will retire from international duty after Friday’s World Cup qualifier against Paraguay and will approach the match with the same tenacity as he did in his first game in 2007.
“I’m leaving with the peace of mind that until Friday I had given everything for the national team. I don’t regret anything,” said Suárez.
‘There is no greater pride in oneself than knowing when the right time is to retire and luckily I am confident that I am retiring from the national team because I want to step aside.’
The 37-year-old, who played for Liverpool from 2011 to 2014, said he was proud to be able to retire on his own terms.
Uruguayan legend Luis Suárez emotionally confirmed his international retirement on Monday
The Liverpool legend promised it would be “very difficult” for him to attend the next World Cup
“I’m 37 years old and I know it’s very difficult to make it to the next World Cup. It’s a great comfort to know that I can retire and not have my injuries force me out of the squad, or that I’m no longer called up,” he said.
‘It’s very helpful to want to take that step aside and feel prepared. It’s difficult because the decision wasn’t easy.
‘But I’m going with the peace of mind that I gave my all until the last game, and that the flame didn’t go out slowly, and that’s why I made the decision to do it now.’
Suárez played in four World Cups, won the Copa América in 2011 and was named the tournament’s best player.
He is the country’s top scorer with 69 goals in 142 games over 17 years.
Having been in the team that finished third at the Copa America in July, the forward added that one of his goals was to show he could continue to contribute to the national team.
‘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 although it wasn’t a trophy to take home, it was very nice for them,’ he said.
He will play his last international match during Uruguay’s clash against Paraguay on Friday.
The 37-year-old Inter Miami striker has enjoyed a glittering career in club and international football.
The striker promised to play with the same tenacity as during his debut in 2007.
‘I wanted to show people that I can continue to contribute to the national team and, well, I had the Copa América and yes, I could have done it perfectly (retired) after that, but having analysed the situation, I want to do it with my people, in my stadium.
“I want my children to have this experience. Saying goodbye to the people here is something I don’t know if many people have done.”
The former Reds star broke into the Uruguay national team when he was just 19 after impressing for Dutch side Groningen in the 2006-07 campaign.
His debut was a sign of things to come for the firebrand star, who has earned a reputation for being controversial throughout his glittering career, as he was sent off in the 85th minute after a second booking for dissent.
Despite his goals, Suarez’s most memorable moment in a Uruguay shirt came at the 2010 World Cup, when he deliberately handled the ball on the goal line to prevent Ghana from scoring during the tournament’s thrilling quarter-final.
The striker’s blatant handball on the goal line prevented Dominic Adiyiah from scoring what was surely destined to be the winner for Ghana, who missed the subsequent penalty after Suarez was told to go off.
Suarez celebrates scoring for Liverpool at White Hart Lane against Tottenham Hotspur in 2013
The Uruguayan striker’s blatant handball in the final minute against Ghana at the 2010 World Cup will go down in history as one of the most controversial moments in international football history.
Despite crying as he left the pitch, Suarez was jubilant as Asamoah Gyan missed the crucial penalty.
“Mine is the real ‘Hand of God’,” he said unapologetically in reference to Diego Maradona’s controversial handball against England in 1986. “I made the save of the tournament. I sometimes play goalkeeper in training so it was worth it.”
Suarez said he would continue to play for Inter Miami, alongside former Barcelona teammate Lionel Messi, having said it would be his last club after joining the Major League Soccer side last year.
