Barcelona's Luis Suarez joined by Lionel Messi in Uruguay to celebrate 'important day'

Barcelona striker Luis Suarez has renewed his marriage vows with his childhood sweetheart Sofia Balbi [Courtesy]

Barcelona striker Luis Suarez has renewed his marriage vows with his childhood sweetheart Sofia Balbi a decade after they tied the knot.

The former Liverpool frontman and his wife reaffirmed their love for each other at a five-star hotel in their homeland in Uruguay in front of guests including Lionel Messi.

Messi was accompanied by his stunning wife Antonela Roccuzzo.

Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba and their partners also attended the glitzy event yesterday/on Thursday at the Hotel Fasano Las Piedras near the upmarket resort of Punta del Este along with former Barcelona striker Neymar.

The religious ceremony took place on the hotel terrace and was officiated by priest Juan Andres Verde, described locally as a friend of Suarez and his wife.

The footballer, who wore a dark blue Dolce&Gabbana suit, told waiting press after renewing his vows: “It’s a very important day for us” before joking: “My wife’s the most difficult defender, the one I can’t escape from.”

Sofia, mum to the couple’s three children Delfina, nine; Benjamin, six; and Laurato, one, hinted something was in the offing last month when she took to Instagram to say: “Counting the day to say YES again! #10 years.”

Messi’s wife, a close friend of the couple, reacted by responding: “Lovely. Long live the couple!”

Suarez has previously talked about how his life changed after meeting Sofia at the age of 15.

He said in an interview: “I was going out at night. I didn’t enjoy studying and I wasn’t dedicating myself to football.

“There were some people around me who were a bad influence.”

He told how his wife-to-be gave him confidence and helped him “believe in himself.”

She stood by him during long bans for biting Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic whilst at Liverpool and a similar incident at the 2014 World Cup involving Italy’s Giorgio Chiellini.

Luis, 32, and Sofia, 30, married in a civil ceremony in Amsterdam in March 2009 but the religious ceremony took place on December 26 2009 in the Uruguayan capital Montevideo.