LThe legend will be missed. After Angel Di Maria decided to retire from the national team after winning the Copa America for the second time in a row with Argentina in 2024, fans launched a campaign for his last World Cup appearance.
‘El Fideo’ was part of the group of players who became world champions in Qatar in 2022 and his goal was essential to the victory. Now Albiceleste’s fans want him back, but he has already made his decision.
Di Maria’s candid message about returning to the national team
There is one notable absence from the biggest soccer event, which will be held in the United States, Mexico and Canada from June 11 to July 19. That is “Angelito” Di Maria.
He said he felt he had “completed his cycle” at Albiceleste and decided to hand over his place to a new star, but the love and enthusiasm is so great that the Argentine is eager for his return.
At 38 years old, he continues to play at an elite level with his hometown team, Rosario Central, and is in good health, as he admitted in an interview with Argentine radio station Urbana Play 104.3FM. “I never thought I would be in this shape at 38 years old.”
However, Di Maria also admitted that he will not play in the 2026 World Cup: “I’m calm. I understand what people are saying,” Ángel also admitted. “I’ve watched a lot of players and sometimes I write to some of them and they say the same thing when I post a photo or when I score a goal, but I’m calm and I’m fine. I’m determined and I’m still the same. I’m still the same,” he said (via Ole).
He also recalled that his desire to retire from the Argentina national team arose after their victory over France in the World Cup final in Qatar on 18 December 2022, but said he was not completely sure at the time. “I didn’t quit because we were champions in the last Copa America. I was planning to leave after the World Cup because I felt like I had come full circle, but then the players started saying, ‘No, no, no…'” he said. revealed.
Meanwhile, the former Juventus star recalled in an interview when manager Lionel Scaloni didn’t call him up: “He felt that people in my position were putting a lot of pressure on him because he knew he was going to be on the bench and start.”
Of course, he acknowledged that “being in the national team is the best thing” and “there’s nothing better than that,” and was willing to sit on the bench if necessary, leaving the door open as well, acknowledging that “I can always come back, that’s the reality.”
However, Di Maria’s spirit and belief in giving opportunities to “those who come after me” is amazing. He spoke about the young players who have joined the Albiceleste ahead of football’s biggest tournament and recalled his own experiences. “It happened to me too. When important games like the World Cup or Copa America come, you need playing time and you need that experience to feel good. And when you’re there, sometimes you take that opportunity away from the players coming from behind. I think that’s not good. In my opinion, that’s not good,” he said.
Meanwhile, Argentina will once again be playing in the World Cup without Di Maria, who played in the tournament in 2010, 2014, 2018 and 2022.
They will now aim to defend their title in Group J alongside Austria, Algeria and Jordan. He made his debut against Algeria on Tuesday 16th June, followed by matches against Austria on Monday 22nd and Jordan on Friday 26th June.
