The 37-year-old has been a key figure for Argentina for many years, sharing countless historic moments with Messi. In an interview with Spanish sports outlet AS, Di María spoke openly about his future and why he believes the time has come to step away.
He said he still dreams of playing in another World Cup, but feels his time has passed and he has already achieved everything he set out to do.
“It’s not that I don’t want to, it’s that I feel like I’ve finished a cycle,” he said. “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.”
Di María also revealed he originally planned to retire from international football in 2022, but was persuaded to stay on until the Copa America in 2024.
“After the Qatar World Cup, I had already decided, and the team persuaded me to play in the final Copa América,” he said. “It ended just like a dream, with us winning the championship, and it was my moment. Now it’s someone else’s turn.”
A Career Filled with Trophies
Di María has won a medal in every major competition he has played for Argentina:
- Olympic Gold (2008, with Messi)
- Copa America (2021)
- Finalissima (2022)
- World Cup (2022)
- Copa America (2024)
The former Real Madrid and Manchester United star has decided to stay in Argentina after retiring in 2024, declining invitations to join other veteran stars like Cristiano Ronaldo, Messi, and Luka Modrić at the upcoming World Cup.