World Cup winner Angel di Maria will retire from the Argentinian national team next summer. The 35-year-old made the announcement via Instagram
“The Copa will be the last time I wear the Argentina shirt. With pain in my soul and a lump in my throat, I say goodbye to the best thing that has happened to me in my career,” said Benfica Lisbon’s attacking player, who has scored 29 goals in 136 caps for the South Americans to date.
The crowning glory of the “noodle “
Winning the World Cup title against France in Qatar last year crowned di Maria’s successful career in the Argentinian national team. The star striker had previously celebrated further triumphs in national dress at the last Copa 2021 (1:0 against Brazil) and at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.
At club level, the winger known as ‘El Fidelo’ due to his lanky physique won the Champions League with Real Madrid in 2014 and the Spanish championship two years earlier. With Paris St. Germain, the delicate technician won the French championship title five times and the Portuguese crown once during his first spell with Benfica. In contrast, his spells with record champions Manchester United in England and Juventus Turin in Italy were without any title successes
Farewell as defending champions?
Argentina are aiming to defend their title at the Copa America 2024 in the USA (June 20 to July 14) with di Maria and superstar Lionel Messi. The South American championship, which has been played since 1916 and has traditionally been held with a Central American guest team in recent years, will take place outside its “home” latitudes for the second time next year. The USA already hosted the event in 2016. Eight years later, the oldest national tournament in soccer will serve as a trial run for the 2026 World Cup finals, which will also be held in the USA, Canada and Mexico.
