Luis Suarez breaks down in tears as Liverpool and Barcelona legend confirms Uruguay retirement after 17 years

LUIS SUAREZ announced he will play his last match for Uruguay this week in a teary-eyed press conference on Monday.

The former Liverpool and Barcelona star confirmed he will wave goodbye to international football after Friday’s World Cup qualifier against Paraguay.

Suarez, 37, revealed that he would play the game with the same enthusiasm as he did in his first back in 2007.

He said: “I leave with the peace of mind that I gave everything for the national team until Friday. I have no regrets.

“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.”

The veteran striker who played for the Reds between 2011-2014 said he is happy he is retiring on his own terms and not due to injury.

He continued: “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.

“It is very helpful 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.”

The Uruguayan ace has played in four World Cups and won the Copa America in 2011 where he was named the tournament’s best player.

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And this year Marcelo Bielsa’s side finished third in the Copa America with Suarez claiming he wanted to finish things off in the nation’s home ground.

He added: “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 even though it wasn’t a trophy to take home, it was very nice for them.

“I wanted to show people again that I can continue to contribute to the national team.

“I had the Copa America and yes, I could have done it (retired) perfectly after that, but having analysed the situation, I want to do it with my people, in my stadium.

“I want my children to live this experience. Saying goodbye with the people here is something that I don’t know if many have done.”

The forward has scored 69 goals in 142 games over 17 years for Uruguay making him the country’s top scorer.

Suarez made his senior debut for Uruguay on 8 February 2007 in a 3–1 win against Colombia but was sent off in the 85th minute after receiving a second yellow card for dissent.

Meanwhile, Suarez said he would remain at Inter Miami playing alongside his former Barca teammate Lionel Messi after mentioning it would be his last club after joining the MLS side last year.

Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk