Ángel Di María
The right winger who delivered Argentina's first trophy in 28 years.
Ángel Fabián Di María, born on 14 February 1988 in Rosario, is an Argentine professional footballer who captains his local club, Rosario Central. Regarded as one of the best players of his generation and among Argentina's greatest ever, he is known for his exceptional dribbling and playmaking abilities. He holds the record as the all-time top assist provider for Argentina and ranks second overall in UEFA Champions League history with 41 assists. His international career began in 2008, marking the start of a journey that would see him feature in ten major tournaments.
- Role
- Winger / Attacking Midfielder
- National Team Debut
- 2008
- Key Achievement
- 2022 FIFA World Cup Winner
- Iconic Moment
- Goal in 2014 World Cup Final
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
Di María's international story is defined by resilience and historic breakthroughs. He debuted for Argentina in 2008, quickly making an impact by scoring the winning goal against Nigeria in the final of the 2008 Olympic Games to secure a second successive gold medal for his country. His journey included four FIFA World Cup appearances, highlighted by a pivotal performance in the 2014 final where he scored the opening goal before suffering an injury that forced him off the pitch. The narrative reached its climax in the Copa América tournaments; after reaching finals in 2015 and 2016, Di María netted the only goal in the 2021 final against Brazil to win Argentina their first trophy in 28 years. He capped his international tenure by helping Argentina reach the 2024 Copa América final before retiring from the national team.
In Their Own Story
The path to glory was not linear. Di María played through four FIFA World Cups and reached four Copa América finals, enduring the heartbreak of the 2014 loss and the near-misses in 2015 and 2016. The turning point came in 2021. In the final against Brazil at the Maracanã, Di María was decisive. He scored the only goal of the match, a moment that broke a 28-year trophy drought for Argentina. His contributions did not stop there; he continued to lead the squad through to the 2024 Copa América final, securing his second title with the national team. Following this victory, he chose to retire from international duty, having fulfilled his dream of winning the country's major honors.
Reader's Guide
Ángel Di María's role evolved into that of a versatile right winger and attacking midfielder capable of creating chances in tight spaces. His most significant guideposts for fans include his debut year of 2008 and his record-breaking assist tally, which makes him the all-time top assist provider for Argentina. He featured in four FIFA World Cups, reaching the final in 2014 and winning the trophy in 2022, where he scored the second goal in the final match. His Copa América journey saw him reach finals in 2015, 2016, 2021, and 2024, with victories in the latter two. Notably, he scored the winning goal in the 2008 Olympic final and the sole goal in the 2021 Copa América final. He retired from the national team immediately after securing the 2024 title.
Did You Know?
- Di María scored the winning goal against Nigeria in the 2008 Olympic Games final to win Argentina their second successive gold medal.
- He is the all-time top assist provider for the Argentine national team.
- Di María netted the only goal in the 2021 Copa América final, securing Argentina's first trophy in 28 years.
- He retired from international football immediately after winning the 2024 Copa América final.
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