Luis Suarez(©Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
Luis Suarez(©Grant Halverson/Getty Images)

Suarez's farewell to Uruguay jersey

Reading Time: 2min | Tue. 03.09.24. | 09:55

The man who bit Chiellini and made Ghana cry is set to retire from the national team, playing his last game on Friday against Paraguay

The legend of Uruguay says goodbye to international football! Apart from the members of the generations that brought La Celeste two World Cup trophies (in 1930 and 1950), Luis Suarez is one of the greatest players this South American country has ever had. With tears in his eyes, El Pistolero confirmed at a press conference that he decided to call it a day on Friday in a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers match against Paraguay.

With 69 goals in 142 appearances, Suarez is Uruguay's all-time leading scorer. He has been wearing the sky blue jersey for 14 years, winning one trophy - 2011 Copa America. He netted his last goal for the national team - the added-time equalizer - against Canada in the third-place playoff match at 2024 Copa America against Canada.

In the world of international football, he'll mostly be remembered by the two - to say the least - unconventional moves at the 2010 and 2014 FIFA World Cups. First, in South Africa, he deliberately made a handball goal-line clearance in the quarter-final clash against Ghana. He was sent off, the Black Stars' Asamoah Gyan missed a spot kick, and Uruguay eliminated Ghana on penalties to book the semi-final ticket.

Four years later, in Brazil - in his third incident of that kind - he bit Italy's Giorgio Chiellini. The ref didn't see what happened and awarded Uruguay a corner, after which Diego Godin scored the 81st-minute winner, securing his team the Round of 16 and eliminating the Azzurri.



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