Ex-Rosario Central, Real Madrid, Manchester United, Paris Saint-Germain, Juventus and current S.L. Benfica player Ángel Di María has come to a shocking decision that he will leave the Argentina national team after their 2024 Copa América campaign next summer. The prolific winger announced his international retirement from the 2022 FIFA World Cup champions after the June tournament next year over his official social media account and the decision will allow him to continue to play professionally at club setting beyond the age of 35.
Ángel Di María’s Statement on His International Retirement
The Rosario, Santa Fe-born Ángel Di María released an official statement on the internet to confirm his retirement from international football and it reads “Well, the last qualifying match has arrived for me, I cannot express in words how much the people’s applause fills my soul in this last time, I enjoy every second of that affection and that of my teammates, they, my friends, without them this story would not have the same meaning. The love of each one of them made me who I am today”.
Ángel Di María continued to add: “Unfortunately, we cannot let the events that arose in the stadium go, no one deserves that bad treatment, not even the beatings, families, and scared children in the middle of a stadium where the only thing that should have happened is to see and enjoy a match within what it is, football folklore. I hope this kind of thing doesn’t happen again. We as players are always going to defend our people without a doubt. Thank you, fans, thank you family, thank you friends and teammates, we continue making history and that will remain for all eternity. Let’s *Explicit* go Argentina!”
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Ángel Di María: 29 Goals and 29 Assists for Argentina
Ángel Di María has been an important member for La Albiceleste since his senior debut back in 2008. In an international career that spreads more than one and a half decade, Ángel Di María registered a total of 136 international caps, making him the fourth most capped players in the country, trailing behind Javier Zanetti, Javier Mascherano and the current captain Lionel Messi.
In those close to 140 games for Argentina, Ángel Di María also has 29 goals and 29 assists. Although such figures may not come outstanding by many standards, the 35-year-old has offered his goals when they mattered the most for his country, including a goal each in three consecutive competitive tournament finals in recent times, namely the 2021 Copa América Final (Against Brazil), 2022 Finalissima (Against Italy) as well as 2022 FIFA World Cup (Against France), helping the Argentina national team to win all three trophies as a result.
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Need a goal in a #FIFAWorldCup Final? Just call Angel Di Maria 🤙🇦🇷
He’s scored in three-straight finals for Argentina! #LetItFly with @qatarairways pic.twitter.com/9S29HB4GV6
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) December 18, 2022
When Will Ángel Di María Retire From Professional Football?
With his international duty set to be done and dusted after Argentina‘s 2024 Copa América next year, it is interesting to see when will Ángel Di María be fully retired from professional football. The 35-year-old winger is on a one-year contract with S.L. Benfica and has showed no signs of slowing down with seven goals and two assists in 14 games in all competitions for the Portuguese Primeira Liga outfit this year thus far.
