Ángel Di María from Rosario is a singular and highly successful case wearing the Argentine national team shirt, the one for which he was questioned many times without taking into account this and other circumstances that make him, after Lionel Messi, the highest reference in the “Mess Generation”.
It all started for “Fideo” at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, when he scored the only goal in the 1-0 victory over Nigeria that led Argentina to its second gold medal after the one achieved in Athens 2004.
The story continued no less than 13 years later, in the 2021 Copa América in Brazil, when Argentina once again became champion, beating the local team in the final, also 1-0, with a goal from Di María, similar in its context to that achieved in that decisive match in the Chinese capital.
The third was on June 1 in the Finalissima between the European champion and the American champion against Italy, at the mythical English stadium of Wembley.
The man born on February 14, 1988 scored the second goal of a 3-0 win late in the first half, after the opening made by Lautaro Martínez and the closing by Paulo Dybala.
And today, December 18, 2022, he was also the author of the second goal for the Albiceleste for the subsequent 3-3 draw against the French and the 4-2 victory in the definition by penalty kicks.
The account was opened by his fellow citizen and friend Lionel Messi, with a penalty kick, and closed, when it seemed victory in extra time, again the captain “Lío”. After him, Kylian Mbappé equalized with his second penalty of the night and his third goal of the day (he made all three for France).
And as on the three previous occasions, all different from each other, Argentina was champion. And on this occasion, for the first time, outside the American continent, after the first world title in Argentina in 1978 and the next in Mexico in 1986.
Di María was an Olympic, American, Euro-American and World Champion. He also knew how to win a Champions League with Real Madrid. And today was his last game with the Argentine shirt, on the brink of his 35th birthday. He played for Manchester United and PSG. He now in Juventus. Absolutely, one of the greatest players in the history of Argentine soccer. deservedly.
