Di Maria Honors Messi After His International Retirement

Angel Di Maria expressed his heartfelt tribute to Lionel Messi after Messi confirmed his retirement from international duty following Argentina's defeat to Spain in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final on July 19, 2026. Messi announced his decision to retire just two days after the final, stating that the loss deepened his resolve to step away from international football.

Di Maria, who has been one of Messi's closest allies throughout their careers with the Argentina National Team, addressed Messi directly in a written message that highlighted their shared experiences. Messi had previously turned down Spain's attempts to persuade him to represent La Roja, choosing to commit to Argentina instead.

Di Maria is recognized as Messi's most influential international teammate, having scored crucial goals in significant victories, including the 2008 Olympic Games final, the 2021 Copa America final against Brazil, and the 2022 FIFA World Cup final against France. Messi's retirement marks the end of an era for Argentina, following the retirement of Nicolas Otamendi.