Luis Suárez, Uruguay's all-time leading scorer, has hinted at a possible international comeback just in time for the 2026 World Cup, saying he "would never say no" to wearing the sky blue jersey again if his country needs him.
The 39-year-old striker stepped away from international duty in September 2024 after a public falling-out with head coach Marcelo Bielsa, claiming the manager had "divided the whole group." But now, after a 19-month absence, Suárez is leaving the door open.
"I would never say no to the national team if they need me, especially with a World Cup coming up," Suárez told reporters, as quoted by Spain's 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."
The former Barcelona and Liverpool forward—now plying his trade with Inter Miami in MLS—boasts an incredible 69 goals in 143 international appearances. He has been a mainstay for Uruguay across four World Cups since his debut in 2010, a tournament that famously saw him stop a Ghana goal with his hand in the quarter-finals, and later bite Italy's Giorgio Chiellini in Brazil 2014, earning a four-month ban.
Despite his age, Suárez insists the fire still burns. "You realise you still have a little bit of life left in you. You get the urge to keep competing," he said. "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 2026 World Cup, co-hosted by Canada, the United States, and Mexico, kicks off on June 11 and runs through July 19. Uruguay finished fourth in South American qualifying and will face Saudi Arabia in Miami on June 15, followed by Cape Verde and Spain in Group H. For Bielsa, now 70, this marks his third World Cup as a head coach, having led Argentina in 2002 and Chile in 2010.
With Suárez's experience and goal-scoring instincts, a return could be just the spark Uruguay needs to make a deep run in North America.