Lionel Messi and Angel Di Maria will play their final game together with the Argentina national team on Sunday in the Copa America Final against Colombia. Di Maria announced his retirement from the national team a couple of months ago, and then he confirmed after the semifinal win against Canada that the final would be his last with the national team. Di Maria is not fully retiring from professional football, as he will still look to play next season at the club level. He was rumored to be moving to Argentina to his boyhood club, but to threats, he decided not to go back. Di Maria also was heavily rumored to join Messi's Inter Miami this summer or even in January. His contract with Benfica ended on June 30th, but things have changed, and he is set to stay in Portugal. Fabrizio Romano reports that Di Maria will stay at Benfica for one more season, agreement sealed today. Benfica wanted him to stay, and Di Maria accepted the proposal, saying that he would stay with the Portuguese club until 2025.
Di Maria played a total of 48 matches for Benfica this past season across all competitions. The Argentine scored 17 goals and provided 15 assists across all competitions. He played in five UEFA Champions League matches, and six UEFA Europa League matches. In the Portuguese league, Di Maria scored nine goals and provided 11 assists.
Di Maria would've fit right into the Inter Miami team since the MLS club brought Messi's friends last summer. Inter Miami signed Luis Suarez, Jordi Alba, and Sergio Busquets. Di Maria is 36 years old but showed that he still has the quality to provide for teams, especially for Inter Miami next to Messi and Suarez in the MLS.
Di Maria spoke after the Canada match and is not ready to play his last match with the Argentina national team on Sunday vs. Colombia. Di Maria said, " I'm not ready for my last game in the national team, but it's time. Whatever happens in the final, I think I can leave through the front door. I gave everything. I always gave my life for this jersey. There were times when I didn't get to, but lately I have. I am grateful to everyone who supported me."
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