Angel Di Maria Celebrates Dream Farewell with Copa America Triumph
Argentina’s Angel Di Maria has described the team’s recent victory over Colombia in the Copa America final as the perfect farewell to his international career. The match, which concluded 1-0 after extra time, marked Argentina’s third consecutive major title, adding to their Copa America win in 2021 and the World Cup triumph in 2022. At 36, Di Maria had previously announced that this tournament would be his last with the national team.
Reflecting on the victory, Di Maria expressed his dreams coming to fruition: “I always imagined this would be my final Copa America, and it ended just as I hoped. I dreamt of reaching the final and winning it, and now I’m retiring on a high note,” he stated.
Argentina’s coach, Lionel Scaloni, substituted Di Maria in the closing moments of extra time, allowing the winger to bask in the heartfelt farewell from fans—a moment that visibly moved him. “I have so many beautiful feelings… I am eternally grateful to this generation. They have given me everything and helped me achieve my dreams, and leaving in this manner is the best outcome,” he added.
Di Maria has been a pivotal part of Argentina’s footballing journey alongside Lionel Messi. Together, they won the Olympic gold medal in 2008, but it took years of effort to secure more silverware, often falling short in crucial tournament stages. The recent “Triple Crown” victory not only highlights Argentina’s dominance but also cements their status in South American football history, as they now hold a record 16th Copa America title.
“Winning isn’t easy, and I’ve experienced both sides of the struggle over the past decade. It’s challenging to reach finals and claim victory,” Di Maria reflected. “We kept fighting, and these players gave me everything I could have wished for.”
Di Maria’s legacy includes scoring the decisive goal in the gold medal match in Beijing and netting the winner against Brazil in the 2021 Copa America final. As he steps away from international duty, his contributions will undoubtedly be remembered as vital to Argentina’s recent successes.
