“I didn’t imagine coming back,” rejoiced Uruguay’s top scorer Luis Suarez on Tuesday, returning after 11 months of absence with Celeste, victorious 3-0 at home against Bolivia in the World Cup qualifiers. 2026. “Given how the last few months had gone since the World Cup (2022 in Qatar), I couldn’t imagine coming back. But with merit and work, by doing things well with my club (Gremio Porto Alegre), I won this call-up, to try to bring everything I can to this spectacular group,” said the striker. at the Uruguayan federation AUFTV platform after the match.
La Celeste was eliminated in the group stage at the World Cup held in Qatar, and Suarez had not scored a goal in three matches. He had never been called up to the Uruguayan team since May, coached by Marcelo Bielsa since May. “We have one of the best N.9s in the world up front, it’s Darwin” Nunez, author of a double against Bolivia, continued Suarez, receiving a standing ovation when he came on in the 72nd minute. “The group needs him as he is, and all I have to do is contribute and applaud him for what he does.”
Aged 36 and scoring 68 goals for Uruguay, Suarez has been playing for Gremio Porto Alegre in Brazil this season. Uruguay (13 points) is second behind Argentina (15 pts), victorious on the night of Tuesday to Wednesday 1-0 in Brazil, in the South America zone for qualifying for the 2026 World Cup. Thursday, Celeste had inflicted Buenos Aires with their first defeat (2-0) on the Argentines since their world title won in Qatar.