(Football news) Argentina star forward Angel di Maria has said he will retire from international football after this year's World Cup in Qatar. Although Di Maria will continue playing club football, it will be the end for his illustrative career for Argentine at the international level later this year. The 34 year old has played 121 times for the national side and scored 24 goals. His highlight of his international career was when he scored the winner last July as Argentina beat Brazil 1-0 to win the Copa America and lift their first major title in 28 years.
Di Maria left PSG this summer and he has yet to decide where he will play his club football next season and there is a strong possibility he might head to Italy and play for Juventus. He said continuing at the international level “would be a bit selfish after so many years and having achieved what I wanted to achieve”. Argentina have another chance to win some silverware when they take on Italy in the “Finalissima” as the Copa America winners, and the reigning European champions face each other today at the Wembley Stadium. Angel Di Maria hasn’t always been a fan favourite for the clubs he has played for but in Argentina he is considered to be a part of the golden generation of talent alongside Messi, Aguero and Dybala.
Di Maria made his debut for Argentina in September 2008 and then went on to play a key role in their World Cup campaign two years later, in which they reached the quarter-finals. Di Maria has already competed in three FIFA World Cups and the FIFA World Cup 2022 will be his fourth World Cup appearance. He went onto win the U20 World Cup and the Olympic gold with Argentina, Di María scored the decisive goal for Argentina’s 2022 in the Copa America final. Di Maria has had his fair share of disappointment at the international level as he has lost two Copa America finals and the World Cup final in 2014 during his 121-cap career.
"After this World Cup, it will be time. There are a lot of lads who are at the international level, who are getting better, and little by little they are going to show that they are at this standard," Di Maria told reporters ahead of Argentina's match against Italy on Wednesday.
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