Argentina's World Cup-winning star Angel di Maria to call time on illustrious career after 2024 Copa America
Follow UsStory highlights
Angel di Maria has won all the distinguished honours in the game and helped Argentina win the 2022 FIFA World Cup where he scored in the final while also earning a penalty in their win over France in Qatar. He was also part of the 2021 Copa America-winning Argentina side where he scored in the final for their first win in 28 years.
Argentina World Cup winner and former Real Madrid star Angel di Maria has confirmed his retirement plans.
He will step away from the national setup after the 2024 Copa America in the USA.
Di Maria has won all the distinguished honours in the game and helped Argentina win the 2022 FIFA World Cup where he scored in the final while also earning a penalty in their win over France in Qatar.
He was also part of the 2021 Copa America-winning Argentina side where he scored in the final for their first win in 28 years.
Di Maria to call time
"The Copa America will be the last time I wear the Argentine shirt, with all the pain of the soul and feeling a lump in my throat I say goodbye to the most beautiful thing that happened to me in my career, dress it, sweat it and FEEL it with all my pride," Di Maria wrote on Instagram.
A legend of the modern game, the 35-year-old has been on the books of some of the best clubs in the world.
He currently plays for SL Benfica in the Portugal Primera Division in his second spell with the club.
With Argentina, he has won multiple accolades with the 2022 FIFA World Cup being his greatest achievement.
ALSO READ | RECORD-BREAKING 300 million fans watched India vs Australia ODI World Cup final on TV, says Jay Shah
Success with stars
In 2008 with Lionel Messi and Sergio Aguero as his teammates, he won the Beijing Olympics gold medal, having also won the 2007 U-20 World Cup.
The year 2021 turned out to be a spectacular one where he helped the national side win their first Copa America since 1993 when they beat Brazil in the final with Di Maria on the scoring sheet.
Later that year, he also helped Argentina win the CONMEBOL–UEFA Cup of Championship with a win over European champions Italy, where he again scored in the final.
So far, he has 136 national team caps with 29 goals for the famous Sky Blues of Argentina.
At the club level, Di Maria has been on the books of some great clubs including Real Madrid, Manchester United, Paris Saint-Germain and Juventus.
In the 2014 Champions League final, he helped Real Madrid beat local rivals Atletico Madrid to clinch their 10th European Cup title and was awarded Player of the Match for his performance.
The match was also his final official match for the club before moving to Manchester United, where he had soar time before moving to PSG in 2015.
)