Ángel Di María addressed the possibility of representing Argentina in the 2026 World Cup during an interview on the Todo Pasa program on Radio Urbana Play, maintaining his stance that his time with the national team has ended to make way for new talents. The Argentine international revealed that, despite conversations with teammates encouraging him to continue, his decision is made. "I am at peace. I know what is being said. The guys sometimes talk to me, I exchange messages with some, and they tell me when I post photos scoring goals or something like that. But no, the truth is that I am grateful. I am at peace, I am well," he stated. Di María emphasized that his intention to retire from the national team is not recent nor was it motivated by winning the Copa América. The idea had been present before the last World Cup. "I was going to retire at the World Cup because I felt I had completed a cycle. I didn't say it before the World Cup because I didn't have it so clear, I didn't feel it," he explained. The former Benfica winger reiterated that his decision was communicated during the Copa América because he felt he was taking up space for a new generation. "At the Copa América, I said it from the beginning because many young players were coming in, and I felt I was occupying a spot," he recalled, adding that representing Argentina "is the most beautiful thing there is." Finally, the Argentine forward concluded with a reflection on the importance of renewal in the national team: "Returning is always possible, that is the reality. But it's not about that; I said it at the time because I felt it. When you are there, you take away the opportunity from those coming behind. From my point of view, that is not nice."
World Cup Benfica remains central to this story.
World Cup Benfica remains central to this story.
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