02:30Hundreds of fans were flocking to Estadio Centenario stadium in Montevideo on Friday to bid farewell to football legend Luis 'Lucho' Suarez, playing the last game against Paraguay before retiring from the Uruguayan national team.
Footage shows fans clad in or holding Uruguayan flags while carrying placards with slogans among others reading: 'Thank you Lucho!!', 'Let's go Uruguay!' on their way to an almost century-old stadium, where Suarez debuted more than 10 years ago. Fans in costumes of Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi posing for photos were also spotted.
Fans expressed their support for the retiring football star, noting that he could be identified with 'a lot of things that mean Uruguayan football itself'.
"Here in Uruguay, we are all football fans. What Suarez did is the dream of all the young and old people. What Suarez did is the dream of everyone," Luis Lasalvia stated.
"I am a fan of Penarol but it doesn't matter, Suarez is [a fan] of Nacional, it doesn't matter, Suarez is Uruguay," Miguel Barreto added. "There's a whole country that supports him and will follow him until he retires."
Other fans voiced their grief over the leave of a 'greatest idol for many people'.
"Today is the first time I have come to watch the national team with sadness. I'm always happy to see the national team play, but Suarez is leaving," Juan Villar commented.
The 37-year-old Uruguayan national team's top scorer announced his retirement at a touching press conference, declaring Friday's match as his last game.
"I've been thinking about this and analysing this. I believe this is the right time," he stated.
After Suarez scored his first goal with the national team at Estadio Centenario in 2007, his total count of goals rocketed to 69 goals in 142 matches with seven of them in World Cups. Throughout the 17 years of his career, Uruguay’s all-time top participated in the World Cup and Copa America, making four football major tournaments in total.
'First time watch national team with sadness' - Uruguayan fans bid farewell to retiring football legend Suarez
Hundreds of fans were flocking to Estadio Centenario stadium in Montevideo on Friday to bid farewell to football legend Luis 'Lucho' Suarez, playing the last game against Paraguay before retiring from the Uruguayan national team.
Footage shows fans clad in or holding Uruguayan flags while carrying placards with slogans among others reading: 'Thank you Lucho!!', 'Let's go Uruguay!' on their way to an almost century-old stadium, where Suarez debuted more than 10 years ago. Fans in costumes of Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi posing for photos were also spotted.
Fans expressed their support for the retiring football star, noting that he could be identified with 'a lot of things that mean Uruguayan football itself'.
"Here in Uruguay, we are all football fans. What Suarez did is the dream of all the young and old people. What Suarez did is the dream of everyone," Luis Lasalvia stated.
"I am a fan of Penarol but it doesn't matter, Suarez is [a fan] of Nacional, it doesn't matter, Suarez is Uruguay," Miguel Barreto added. "There's a whole country that supports him and will follow him until he retires."
Other fans voiced their grief over the leave of a 'greatest idol for many people'.
"Today is the first time I have come to watch the national team with sadness. I'm always happy to see the national team play, but Suarez is leaving," Juan Villar commented.
The 37-year-old Uruguayan national team's top scorer announced his retirement at a touching press conference, declaring Friday's match as his last game.
"I've been thinking about this and analysing this. I believe this is the right time," he stated.
After Suarez scored his first goal with the national team at Estadio Centenario in 2007, his total count of goals rocketed to 69 goals in 142 matches with seven of them in World Cups. Throughout the 17 years of his career, Uruguay’s all-time top participated in the World Cup and Copa America, making four football major tournaments in total.
Hundreds of fans were flocking to Estadio Centenario stadium in Montevideo on Friday to bid farewell to football legend Luis 'Lucho' Suarez, playing the last game against Paraguay before retiring from the Uruguayan national team.
Footage shows fans clad in or holding Uruguayan flags while carrying placards with slogans among others reading: 'Thank you Lucho!!', 'Let's go Uruguay!' on their way to an almost century-old stadium, where Suarez debuted more than 10 years ago. Fans in costumes of Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi posing for photos were also spotted.
Fans expressed their support for the retiring football star, noting that he could be identified with 'a lot of things that mean Uruguayan football itself'.
"Here in Uruguay, we are all football fans. What Suarez did is the dream of all the young and old people. What Suarez did is the dream of everyone," Luis Lasalvia stated.
"I am a fan of Penarol but it doesn't matter, Suarez is [a fan] of Nacional, it doesn't matter, Suarez is Uruguay," Miguel Barreto added. "There's a whole country that supports him and will follow him until he retires."
Other fans voiced their grief over the leave of a 'greatest idol for many people'.
"Today is the first time I have come to watch the national team with sadness. I'm always happy to see the national team play, but Suarez is leaving," Juan Villar commented.
The 37-year-old Uruguayan national team's top scorer announced his retirement at a touching press conference, declaring Friday's match as his last game.
"I've been thinking about this and analysing this. I believe this is the right time," he stated.
After Suarez scored his first goal with the national team at Estadio Centenario in 2007, his total count of goals rocketed to 69 goals in 142 matches with seven of them in World Cups. Throughout the 17 years of his career, Uruguay’s all-time top participated in the World Cup and Copa America, making four football major tournaments in total.