Angel Di Maria’s Farewell: “We Won Copa America for Messi”

Angel Di Maria, who scored the winning goal in Argentina’s previous Copa America triumph, ended his international career on a high note after Argentina’s dramatic victory over Colombia in the Copa America Final. Despite captain Lionel Messi leaving the match with an ankle injury, Lautaro Martinez’s extra-time goal secured Argentina’s win.

Messi’s longtime teammate, Angel Di Maria, expressed his mixed emotions after the match. “I’m not happy Messi had to leave because of his ankle, but we finally won it for him. It was a great night,” Di Maria said after the intense final in Miami.

This victory marked Di Maria’s second Copa America title. Reflecting on the achievement, the former Real Madrid and Manchester United winger said, “I dreamed we’d win like this. I’m eternally grateful to this generation of players. This is the best way it could have ended.”

Di Maria concluded his international career with 31 goals from 145 appearances, including crucial goals in the Finalissima, Copa America, and World Cup finals. He recalled the challenging years of near misses, saying, “It seems easy, but it’s very difficult. We tried for 10 or 11 years without success. Now, we’re winning, and we have to enjoy it.”