Former Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester United player Angel Di Maria has officially announced his retirement from the Argentine national team. The midfielder has confirmed that he will step down after the 2024 Copa America, meaning he won’t be part of the squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
In his statement, Di Maria expressed his gratitude and revealed a heartfelt moment with his teammate Lionel Messi at PSG, saying, “I will leave the Argentina national team after Copa América; it’s over for me. I hugged Messi at PSG and told him: the only thing I’m grateful for is to have been able to play with you in a club, to be able to see you every day.”
Di Maria admitted that he had considered retiring from international football after Argentina’s loss in the Copa America final, especially when Messi initially announced his departure from the national team. There were reports of players, including Di Maria, contemplating leaving due to Messi’s decision, but he ultimately changed his mind.
Reflecting on his previous defeats in three consecutive finals, he said, “When Messi retired, I thought about doing the same; you can lose a final, but three in a row, that’s something different. I thought about leaving the national team, but my wife and my father stopped me. I almost started therapy, but in the end, I decided it was something I had to figure out by myself. If I lose another final, that’s it.”
Throughout his international career, Di Maria made 134 appearances, scoring 29 goals and providing the same number of assists. He has also celebrated five major trophies with the South American team. Di Maria’s time with the national team will always be remembered for his contributions to winning the Copa America and the FIFA World Cup.