Luis Suárez fights back tears in emotional retirement announcement

Striker Luis Suaacuterez will play his last game for Uruguay on Friday Suaacuterez was emotional as he announced he was ending a 17year international career after the World Cup qualifier against Paraguay at Centenario StadiumIt hurts to say it but Friday will be my last match with my countrys national team Suaacuterez said late Monday unable to hold back tears at a press conferenceI am retiring because I want to step aside I am 37 years old there are a lot of talented players and I know it would be difficult to get to the next World Cup ldquo rdquoLuis Suaacuterez confirmoacute en conferencia que se retira de httpstcoqVMBrYJR1J ElEquipoQueNosUne pictwittercomoRuiJVUBz0mdash Seleccioacuten Uruguaya Uruguay September 2 2024It is comforting to know I can retire on my terms and not have to retire due to injuries or to not being called up I want to say goodbye here with my people This is the ideal momentSuaacuterez debuted in 2007 and is Uruguays alltime leading scorer with 69 goals in 142 matches He played in four World Cups and five Copa AmericaHe helped to lead the team to the title at the 2011 Copa where he scored twice in the semifinals and the matchwinner in the final and was named player of the tournamentIts very difficult but I want to be relaxed when I play my last game with the national team he said I will be just as excited as I was for my first national team appearance in 2007 when I was a 19yearold kidNow I am a veteran an older player whatever you want to call it with an incredible history with the national team and I will give my life for the team on FridayAlso Read Suarez scores Uruguay soarIn the 2010 World Cup quarterfinals Suaacuterez prevented Ghana from scoring an extratime winner with his hand on the goal line and was redcarded Ghana missed the resulting penalty kick Uruguay won a penalty shootout and reached the semifinals for the first time in 40 yearsSuaacuterez was hailed at home as a saviour but he was scorned at the 2014 World Cup when he bit Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini in their last group gameIt was the third of four times in his career he bit a player FIFA banned Suarez for nine games the longest ban in World Cup history and he missed the rest of the tournament and the 2015 Copa AmericaMy fear has always been that my lasting image for my children and all Uruguayan fans would be of 2014 Suaacuterez saidI have gotten past that And I hope the people have also forgotten and they are left with all the great moments I lived in our stadium with all the things our team accomplished in Copas America in World CupsHe reached 100 caps at the 2018 World Cup and was twice named man of the match en route to the quarterfinals But in 2022 Uruguay didnt get out of their groupSuaacuterez will continue at Inter Miami which he has previously said will be his last club Hes also had a stellar career at clubs including Barcelona Liverpool Ajax and Atletico MadridWith AP inputs