Argentina’s golden era will forever be linked with the genius of Lionel Messi but today’s Copa America final is a reminder of the key influence of winger Angel Di Maria.
The 36-year-old has made clear that the clash with Colombia, when the world champions could win their third straight major title, is his last game in the famous light blue and white stripes.
Whatever happens during the clash at Hard Rock Stadium, it is going to be an emotional occasion for Di Maria, who hasn’t hidden his feelings about his farewell.
“With all the pain in my soul and feeling a lump in my throat I say goodbye to the most beautiful thing that has happened to me in my career, to wear it, sweat it and feel it with all my pride,” Di María said in November when announcing his planned retirement.
Like Messi, Di Maria played through all the years of frustration for Argentina that ended with their 2021 Copa America triumph in Brazil and was then obliterated by the joy of the World Cup title in Qatar a year later.
Like the eight-times Ballon d’Or winner, Di Maria fought for glory in South America while enjoying a successful career in European football, particularly in Spain where he was a league title and Champions League winner with Real Madrid. Both players hail from the football hotbed of Rosario and their success together began with the 2008 Olympic Games where Di Maria scored the winner in the gold medal game against Nigeria. That victory was expected to be the first of many for a talented generation of Argentine player but instead it became merely refered to, for 13 years, as the only title they had managed.
When Argentina finally claimed silverware, in the 2021 Copa at the Maracana in Rio, the headlines around the world proclaimed the end of Messi’s long wait for a trophy with his country. As in Beijing, it was Di Maria who got the decisive goal, cutting in from the right and lobbing Brazil keeper Ederson in the 22nd minute. But operating in Messi’s shadow, is exactly what Di Maria has been thriving on for the Albiceleste.
When Messi has played on the left-side of the attack, Di Maria has operated on the right. When Messi has switched flanks, so has Di Maria, who has also operated centrally from midfield.
Whatever line-up Argentina and Messi have adopted, Di Maria has been the consistent provider of assists, with his languid dribbling style, precise crosses and clever cut-backs, a constant source of creativity.
He also has 31 goals in his 144 appearances for his country - one of the most crucial coming in the 2022 World Cup final against France, four years after one of his best - a superb left-foot strike against the same opponents in the round-of-16 defeat in Russia.
Messi has said that he wants to win this Copa for Di Maria, nicknamed El Fideo, the noodle, due to his skinny frame.
Di Maria was asked about Messi’s words and responded with a tearful interview where he conceded he was finding it hard to say goodbye.
“I’m not ready for my last game with the national team, but now it’s time. A thousand things can happen, but I think that whatever happens on the 14th (in the final), I can leave through the big door. I’ve done everything to be able to leave through that door,” he said.
“I’ll take a lot of trophies with me, but the people, teammates and friends I’ll take with me is something you can’t buy with anything,” he added.
But his coach Lionel Scaloni has tried to leave the door open, hoping that perhaps another emotional night for the team might prompt a rethink. “I’m in favour of letting Di Maria play...then we’ll see if we convince him to stay or not. In the meantime, he has to enjoy the moment. We’ll see if we can convince him.”