Di Maria confirms time of his retirement from int football

Argentine forward Angel Di Maria has confirmed that he will retire from international football after next summer's Copa America to be held in the United States.

The 35-year-old superstar posted a message on social media to confirm his intentions.
Di Maria made his international debut back in 2008 and has gone on to win the World Cup, the Copa America, and Olympic gold with La Albiceleste. He has won well over 100 caps for the national team but will now say farewell after the tournament in the US.

"The Copa America will be the last time I wear the Argentine shirt, with all the pain of the soul and feeling a lump in my throat I say goodbye to the most beautiful thing that happened to me in my career, dress it, sweat it and feel it with all my pride," he wrote on Instagram.

Di Maria will be hoping to sign off on a high by helping Argentina to more Copa America glory following their success in 2021. The forward has played a key role in Argentina's success throughout his career and has proved to be the man for the big occasion. He scored in the Olympic final in 2008, the Copa America final in 2021, and the World Cup final in 2022.

Manager Lionel Scaloni has said Di Maria deserves the same recognition as Messi, Diego Maradona, and Mario Kempes due to his achievements with the national team.

Di Maria will spend the rest of the season with Benfica after returning to the Portuguese side for the second time in his career in the summer. The forward moved on a free transfer and signed a one-year deal with the club.

EM