Argentina winger Angel Di Maria described Sunday’s Copa America victory over Colombia as the ideal conclusion to his career with the national team. The Albiceleste secured a 1-0 win in extra time, marking their third consecutive major title after winning the Copa in 2021 and the World Cup the following year.
Di Maria, 36 years old, had announced his decision to retire from international duty after the tournament in November.
“I dreamt it, that’s why I said it was the last Copa America and it ended here. I dreamt that I would reach the final, I dreamt that I would win it, that I would retire like this,” he said.
Argentine coach Lionel Scaloni took Di Maria off in the final minutes of extra-time, ensuring he received a huge farewell from the team’s fans which his eyes showed he was moved by.
“I have so many beautiful feelings..I am eternally grateful to this generation, they gave me everything, they made me achieve what I wanted so much, and today I am leaving in this way, how better than this?” he said.
Di Maria had been part of a generation alongside Lionel Messi that initially found success with the Olympics in 2008 but later faced challenges in major tournaments, often falling short in the final stages to the frustration of the nation.
However, winning the ‘Triple Crown’ and securing Argentina’s record 16th Copa America title under Lionel Scaloni’s leadership solidifies their team’s place among the greats of South American football.
“It seems easy but it is very difficult. I know because I lived on the other side too for ten, 11 years, fighting for it,” said the Benfica winger.
“It’s not easy to reach finals and win them. And now it’s happening, it’s like that, at some point it had to happen and I would have liked to have been able to win one too with the previous bunch of lads, we deserved it too but we kept insisting, kept fighting and these guys gave me everything” he said.
Di Maria scored the goal which won the gold medal in Beijing and also grabbed the goal in the 1-0 win over Brazil in the 2021 Copa final.
