Uruguay great Suarez retires from international football

Luis Suarez has announced he will retire from international football after Uruguay’s World Cup qualifier versus Paraguay on Friday.

Suarez is Uruguay’s all-time leading goalscorer, having netted 69 times in 142 appearances, with only Diego Godin (161) winning more caps for La Celeste.

The striker helped Uruguay reach the semi-finals of the 2010 World Cup and win their 15th Copa America title in 2011, being named Player of the Tournament as he scored four goals including the opener in the final – a 3-0 victory over Paraguay.

Suarez will face the same opponents in his final international match on Saturday as Marcelo Bielsa’s team look to build on a return of 13 points from their first six games in the CONMEBOL World Cup qualification process.

“I’ve been thinking about this and analysing this. I believe this is the right time,” a tearful Suarez 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, that will give his life for the team.”

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