In a rather shocking and a tear-jerking moment, Edinson Cavani, one of Uruguay’s most cherished footballer, has called it quit for international football. This decision occurs only some weeks before the beginning of Copa America, and means retirement for Uruguay national team. Cavani’s retirement is a sad day in the Uruguayan football calendar, which saw him represent the country in the past fifteen years at the highest level, helping the team achieve key performances.
Edinson Cavani Impact on Uruguay’s National Team
Currently, Edinson Cavani is known as one of the key athletes of the Uruguay national team after he joined the team in 2008. In total, he has played 135 international games and has scored 58 goals, thus, becoming the second most popular Uruguayan footballer in terms of goal scoring achievement, right after Luis Suárez. Despite being a relatively young player, Cavani has played a significant role in the impressive performance by Uruguay in international competitions.
Cavani played a key role in the success of the Uruguay national football team, which won the Copa America tournament in 2011, mainly because of his effectiveness and important goals scored during this pretty important competition. Therefore, his match-wining prowess has won him the much-needed reputation of a dependable and frequent goalscorer. Due to his association with Luis Suárez who became his strike partner his was one of the most lethal in international football.
The Decision to Retire
Everyone expected much from Cavani in the Copa America, but the star decided much to the dismay of the fans to retire from international soccer. During the announcement of his resignation Cavani was able to show range of emotions – pride of being the national team captain and the bitterness of leaving the position. Timing of his retirement was quite appropriate as it might have required a consideration of his health, welfare, better interest of his team as well as his own future employment prospects.
Cavani has had his fair share of injury prone years in the recent past and this could have made him to make this decision. At 37, the strains that go with international football and a palpitating calendar of club engagements can certainly overwork any sportsman. The intention of Cavani to retire now time enables him to exit international football without causing any embarrassment of poor performance that might characterize his footballing days.
Legacy and Influence
That has been also considered as the end of an era for the Uruguay national football team because of the retirement of Edinson Cavani. Though his main duty is mainly to score goals for the team he has gone further than that. Cavani is also one more example of a leader on and off of a playing field, professionalism, discipline and commitment. In the Uruguay set up, many young players have looked up to him as a role model if any at all.
Yet, another component that shows Cavani’s strength is the fact that he values the respect from both opponents and teammates. This has earned him due recognition and admiration from all over the world. Cavani’s international career is all about professionalism, hard work and raising the Uruguayan football bar high for future generations to emulate.
Reactions from the Football Community
Given Cavani’s decision to retire from football, this bit of news has seen eliciting an outpour of reaction from the football fraternity. Many fellow players, coaches, fans have joined the social media platforms to celebrate him for the achievements he made in his exciting carrying career. Having scored 171 goals for the club in total as striker Luis Suárez’s for years-forced strike partner titled an emotional message to Cavani during which the Uruguayan expressed the unforgettable roles of the couple as well as the club’s husband.
Some former teammates and trainers have also congratulated Cavani for the feats they worked on together. Óscar Tabárez, co who mentored Cavani for most of his international endeavours said so much about his working ethic and dedication to the team. Tabárez pointed out that Cavani helped his teammates as people not only on the playing field but also in terms of cheering up and creating a strong unity.
