On July 18th, during the Copa America final, Argentina’s victory over Colombia crowned them champions, marking what appeared to be the end of Angel Di Maria’s international career. The player, known as “El Fideo,” delivered countless memorable moments across 145 appearances for his country, including one FIFA World Cup title, two Copa America trophies, and a CONMEBOL-UEFA Cup of Nations accolade. However, with the Copa America concluded, Di Maria’s iconic blue-and-white jersey seemed destined for retirement. Yet, according to his wife, Jorgelina Cardoso, her husband might have one last appearance in him, potentially in the September South American qualifier against Chile, to bid farewell to Argentine fans.
Jorgelina revealed in an interview that there are plans being discussed to organize a farewell tribute for Di Maria during the match against Chile. She believes he deserves this recognition, and the fans are eager for a chance to pay their respects to the legendary footballer. “I’ve heard they’re planning a goodbye game for him during this match, and if it happens, it would be a beautiful moment for him and the fans, as they all want to give him a proper send-off,” she said.
Di Maria’s decision to retire was made after careful consideration and discussions with his teammates. Jorgelina disclosed that when Argentina triumphed at the World Cup, Di Maria saw it as the end of his national team journey, but upon encouragement from his teammates, he decided to continue until the conclusion of the Copa America. “He told me that after winning the World Cup, he felt everything was complete,” she shared. “But his teammates convinced him to carry on, to enjoy the celebrations, until the end of the Copa America.”
Although Di Maria has announced his retirement from international duty, he may make a brief reappearance in the match against Chile. The Argentine Football Association is working on organizing a special farewell ceremony, which could include Di Maria leading out the team as captain and being substituted off in the 11th minute—a nod to his signature shirt number. Whether this scenario unfolds remains to be seen, but one thing is certain—regardless of the outcome, Di Maria’s place in the annals of Argentine football history is firmly secured.