Argentine world champion Angel di Maria has announced his retirement from the national team.
Source: epa/Ronald Wittek
World champion Angel Di Maria will retire from the Argentine national football team at next summer’s Copa America after almost 16 years. The 35-year-old striker from Portuguese record champions Benfica Lisbon announced his decision via Instagram.
“The Copa will be the last time I will wear Argentina’s jersey,” said Di Maria after 136 international matches (29 goals) for the South Americans.
With pain in my soul and a lump in my throat, I say goodbye to the best thing that has happened to me in my career.
Angel Di Maria
World title the crowning achievement of one’s career
Copa as a test run for the 2026 World Cup
Argentina is aiming to successfully defend its title at the Copa America 2024 in the USA (June 20 to July 14) with Di Maria and, above all, superstar Lionel Messi. The South American Championship, which has been played since 1916 and has traditionally featured Central American guest teams in recent years, will take place outside of “home” latitudes for only the second time next year, after the USA had already acted as host at the Copa America in 2016.
Eight years later, the oldest national tournament in football is serving as a test run for the 2026 World Cup finals, also in the USA, Canada and Mexico.
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2023-11-23 22:21:45
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