Argentina legend Angel Di Maria has officially confirmed he will not participate in the upcoming FIFA World Cup, despite the continued presence of fellow icons Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. In a revealing interview with AS, the 37-year-old winger explained that his international journey reached its perfect conclusion following Argentina’s recent triumphs. Di Maria, who currently plays for his boyhood club Rosario Central, remains steadfast in his decision to remain retired from the national team, a choice he initially made after the 2024 Copa America.
The former Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain star enjoyed a trophy-laden international career, securing every major honor available to a South American player. His legacy includes the 2008 Olympic gold medal, the 2021 Copa America, the 2022 Finalissima, and the historic 2022 World Cup title in Qatar. Although teammates and fans urged him to reconsider for one final global campaign, Di Maria believes the timing is right to allow a younger generation of Argentine talent to establish their own era.
While Messi, Ronaldo, and Luka Modric prepare for one last dance on the world stage this year, Di Maria prefers to support the Albiceleste as a spectator. He noted that he achieved his dream of retiring as a champion, and he feels no desire to disrupt that “movie-like” ending. The veteran attacker now focuses entirely on his club commitments and his transition toward a future coaching career, having already begun his licensing courses.
Reflecting on his departure, Angel Di Maria highlighted his satisfaction with his accomplishments: “It’s not that I don’t want to, it’s that I feel like I’ve finished a cycle. I’ve done all the things I set out to do, a new group of young people is now taking over, and I feel like it’s finally time to step back. After the Qatar World Cup, I had already decided, and the team persuaded me to play in the final Copa América. It ended just like a dream, with us winning the championship, and it was my moment. Now it’s someone else’s turn.”
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