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Argentina's Di Maria to quit internationals after Copa America

CGTN

Argentina forward Angel Di Maria announced on Thursday that he plans to retire from international football after next year's Copa America.

Di Maria, 35, first represented his country in 2008, and has since made 136 international appearances. His international career peaked in December 2022 when he extended the lead for his side in the FIFA World Cup final against defending champions France, and Argentina went on to win their third title on penalties. He has played in a total of four World Cups, including a championship victory in Qatar.

His sixth trip to the Copa America, in which Argentina will seek to defend their title, will take place from June 20 to July 14 in the U.S.

"The Copa America will be the last time I wear the Argentina shirt," Di Maria wrote on Instagram.

"With all the pain in my soul and feeling a lump in my throat, I say goodbye to the most beautiful thing that happened to me in my career.

"I can't express in words how much the cheering of the fans has filled my soul in this last match, I enjoyed every second of with my teammates and friends," he added, referring to his last World Cup qualifier in which Argentina beat Brazil.

Di Maria has played for La Liga's Real Madrid, Ligue 1's Paris Saint Germain, Serie A's Juventus and the Premier League's Manchester United, and recently rejoined Portuguese champions Benfica, where he previously played for from 2007 to 2010.

(Cover: Angel Di Maria celebrates after scoring Argentina's second goal against France in the 2022 FIFA World Cup final in Lusail City, Qatar, December 18, 2022. /CFP)

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