Luis Suarez will not be given a Uruguay swansong at the World Cup this summer after reportedly being omitted from their provisional 55-man list.
According to journalist Rodri Vazquez, the 39-year-old has not made Marcelo Bielsa‘s cut – in a decision that has shocked many in his homeland.
Suarez’s snub may raise more eyebrows considering his recent comments willing to come out of retirement to help his national side after a 19-month absence from international football.
Suarez retired from Uruguay in September 2024 and took shots at Bielsa a month later claiming that he had ‘divided the whole group’ and some players were considering quitting.
In an interview with Latin American broadcaster DSports, Uruguay’s all-time leading scorer also asked ‘the fans not to take it out on the players when things go wrong’ because ‘the players will reach a limit and they will explode’ under the Argentine’s working conditions.
Suarez also criticised the treatment of midfielder Agustin Canobbio, who was forced to train as a ball boy and a spare man during the 2024 Copa America, and staff not being allowed to greet or eat with the team.
Luis Suarez has been overlooked for Uruguay’s 55-man provisional squad for the World Cup
He retired from Uruguay in September 2024 after making several claims against Marcelo Bielsa
However, on May 9, Suarez performed a U-turn in his stance saying he ‘would never say no’ to playing for his country once more.
Opening the door to a return, Uruguay’s all-time leading goalscorer said, as quoted by Spain’s EFE news agency: ‘I would never say no to the national team if they need me, especially with a World Cup coming up,’
‘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.
‘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.’
The Inter Miami star has scored 69 goals in 143 caps for Uruguay and played in four World Cups since 2010 – but will now not play in a fifth after Bielsa’s reported decision.
Uruguay begin their World Cup campaign against Saudi Arabia in Miami on 15 June, and will also face Cape Verde and Spain in Group H as they look to win the tournament for a third time.
