Luis Suarez: Uruguay legend decides to call time on international career – ‘There is no better pride’

Luis Suarez said there is “no better pride in oneself” than making the decision to “step aside” from the Uruguay national team on his own terms.

The legendary 37-year-old striker will officially retire from international football after Uruguay’s World Cup qualifier against Paraguay on Friday.

Suarez said he “gave [his] all” for his country from start to finish, but now is the right time to walk away.

“Friday will be my last match with my country’s national team,” an emotional Suarez revealed in a press conference on Monday.

“There is no better pride in oneself than knowing when the right moment to retire is. 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.

Luis Suarez addresses the media ahead of his international retirement.

Image credit: Getty Images

“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.”

During his time in international football, Uruguay captain Suarez has scored 69 times in 142 games and is the nation’s all-time leading goalscorer.

He made his Uruguay debut under manager Oscar Tabarez in 2007, with Friday’s match set to be his 143rd and final game.

The former Liverpool and Barcelona forward represented his nation at eight major international tournaments, including the 2010 World Cup where he scored three goals as Uruguay reached the semi-final.

Despite Suarez’s illustrious trophy haul in club football, which includes five La Liga titles and UEFA Champions League success in 2015 amongst many more, there is one which means the most to him.

“I was lucky to win many titles in my career, but I would not change the Copa America title for anything in the world,” Suarez said, who scored and assisted in the 2011 Copa America final as Uruguay beat Paraguay 3-0 for the country’s fourth title.

“That Copa America 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.”