SOCCER
Luis Suárez announces Uruguay retirement: Will Suárez keep playing for Inter Miami?
Seventeen years on from his international debut, Suárez will play his final international game against Paraguay this weekend.
Uruguay and Inter Miami striker Luis Suárez has announced his retirement from international soccer, calling time on an illustrious career with the national team.
The 37-year-old is Uruguay’s record goal scorer with 69 goals and is set to make his 143rd and final appearance for the national team against Paraguay this on Saturday.
“I’ve been thinking about this and analyzing this. I believe this is the right time,” a tearful Suárez told reporters on Monday. “I want to be relaxed when I play my last game with the national team.”
“I’ll be just as excited to play as I was in 2007 when I played for my national team for the first time. That 19-year old kid is now a veteran player, an older player — however you want to call it — with an incredible history with the national team will give his life for the team on Friday.”
Will Luis Suárez retire from Inter Miami?
The announcement made by Suárez on Monday confirmed that he was retiring from the Uruguayan national team, but he made no comment on his future at club level. In soccer, it’s common for players to step back from the international game to continue playing for their club in the final stages of their career.
As such, Suárez will definitely continue with Inter Miami for the remainder of 2024. Beyond that, his future is less clear.
He has been in brilliant form for Miami in his first season in MLS, leading the team’s scoring charts and now just one goal off the pace in the race for the Golden Boot. Last Saturday he scored a brace to help Miami to a 4-1 win over Chicago Fire. His second goal was his 16th of the MLS campaign, tying Inter Miami’s single-season scoring record.
His current deal at Chase Stadium expires at the end of the current season and all parties seem content to make a decision on extension at the end of 2024. If his aging legs will allow, a fierce competitor such as Suárez may well be tempted to stay for one more year. What’s almost certain, however, is that MLS will see the final games of a genuine legend.