Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez has signaled his willingness to come out of international retirement for the 2026 World Cup if called upon, potentially ending a 19-month absence from the national side. The 39-year-old, Uruguay’s all-time leading scorer with 69 goals in 143 appearances, retired from international duty in September 2024, a farewell marked by criticism of coach Marcelo Bielsa’s management style—a comment he says he has since apologized for.
“I would never say no to the national team if they need me, especially with a World Cup coming up,” Suarez told reporters, as quoted by EFE news agency. “At the time, I stepped aside to make way for the younger generation. I said something I shouldn’t have said. I have already apologised to those I needed to apologise to.”
Currently playing for Inter Miami in Major League Soccer, Suarez insists he still has the competitive drive: “You realise you still have a little bit of life left in you. You get the urge to keep competing. You can see it on the pitch when you still get angry about the losses and the bad passes, and you still enjoy it when you score goals.”
A veteran of four World Cups and a Copa America winner in 2011, Suarez remains a legendary figure in Uruguayan football. The 2026 FIFA World Cup, co-hosted by Canada, the United States, and Mexico, kicks off June 11.
