Di Maria – who scored the decisive goal in Argentina’s previous Copa America win three years ago – played his last match for the national team on Sunday, ending a stellar career on a high.
Argentina players Angel Di Maria, left, Lionel Messi, second from left, and Nicolas Otamendi, third from left, celebrate with the trophy after defeating Colombia in the Copa America final soccer match in Miami Gardens, Fla., Monday, July 15, 2024. (AP/PTI)
Argentina were given a major scare in the middle of their Copa America Final against Colombia on Sunday as captain Lionel Messi was forced off following a nasty-looking ankle injury. The tournament favorites, however, were able to seal a win thanks to Lautaro Martinez’s winner in extra time.
Messi’s longtime national teammate Angel Di Maria, who was playing his last game for Argentina, expressed satisfaction over the fact that despite an injury to their talisman, the world champions were able to get over the line in the summit clash.
“The truth is I’m not happy because he had to leave that way because of his ankle problem. But finally today, we were able to win it for him. Give him joy he deserves. It was a great night,” Di Maria told broadcasters after a pulsating final in Miami.
It was a second Copa America title for Di Maria – having scored the only goal in the final three years ago in Brazil. Capping off the emotions afterwards, the former Real Madrid and Manchester United winger conceded, “I dreamed that it would play out like this, that we’d reach the final and that we would win it in this way. I don’t know what to say. I’m eternally grateful to this generation of players. This is the best way it could have ended.”
Di Maria wrapped up his international career with 31 goals – three of which came in the Finalissima, Copa America, and World Cup finals win – from 145 appearances for Argentina.
The 36-year-old also recalled failures of the past – losing three big finals in three years – terming the turnaround from the national team as ‘not easy’.
“It seems easy but it’s very difficult. We experienced what it was like to be on the other side for 10 or 11 years. We tried as hard as we could but couldn’t win [a major tournament]. Now we’re having success and we have to enjoy it,” Di Maria said.
