The Ageless Ángel Di María: Argentina’s big-game hero now chases libertadores glory

At 38 years old, Ángel Di María is once again proving that class is permanent. Back home wearing the shirt of his beloved Rosario Central, El Fideo has become the standout performer in the Argentine Primera División, defying both age and expectations.

His brilliance has also highlighted just how much Argentina still misses him. During the Selección’s defeat to Spain in New Jersey, Lionel Messi looked without his most trusted ally—the player who, for more than a decade, repeatedly delivered when the stakes were highest.

Love for Rosario Central stronger than fear

Sometimes, the desire to make your people happy outweighs every danger.

Few players embody that better than Di María.

After announcing his return to Rosario Central, the club he has supported since childhood, Di María received shocking death threats linked to drug gangs operating in his hometown of Rosario. For many, those warnings would have been enough to stay away.

Not for El Fideo.

The player famous for celebrating goals by making a heart with his hands chose love over fear. It was the same passion that helped inspire one of the greatest eras in Argentina’s history, as the Albiceleste lifted every major trophy available between 2021 and 2024.

Argentina’s ultimate big-game player

While Lionel Messi will forever remain Argentina’s greatest footballer, Di María often became the team’s difference-maker in the biggest matches.

His tactical intelligence, relentless work rate and ability to play on either wing made him indispensable. Whenever Messi struggled to impose himself, Di María was capable of taking control.

His importance became painfully obvious whenever he wasn’t available.

The first glimpse came at the 2008 Olympic Games, where his winning goal against Nigeria secured Olympic gold for Argentina.

Soon afterwards, Diego Maradona made him a permanent fixture of the senior national team, recognising that Di María perfectly complemented Messi despite coming from Rosario’s fierce rivals, Rosario Central, while Messi had grown up in Newell’s Old Boys. Their friendship soon became one of the defining partnerships of modern international football.

The man who decided the finals

Ironically, some of Argentina’s most painful defeats coincided with Di María’s absence.

His injury before the 2014 FIFA World Cup Final against Germany robbed Argentina of their most dangerous counter-attacking weapon.

The same happened during the 2015 and 2016 Copa América finals, where injuries limited him to just 29 and 57 minutes respectively before Argentina eventually lost both finals on penalties.

When fully fit, however, Di María transformed history.

His delicate chip over Ederson in the 2021 Copa América Final against Brazil at the Maracanã ended Argentina’s 28-year wait for a major trophy and changed the mentality of Lionel Scaloni’s squad forever.

One year later, he produced another masterpiece.

In the 2022 FIFA World Cup Final, Di María won the penalty that opened the scoring before finishing a brilliant team move to double Argentina’s lead against France. His substitution shortly after the hour mark completely altered the momentum, allowing France back into the game before Argentina eventually triumphed on penalties.

Even in his farewell tournament, Di María delivered.

During the 2024 Copa América Final, he produced a tireless 117-minute performance against Colombia, earning the Man of the Match award as Lautaro Martínez scored the extra-time winner. It was the perfect ending to an extraordinary international career.

To this day, Argentina have yet to find anyone capable of replacing him.

The missing piece against Spain

Argentina’s recent defeat to Spain exposed a weakness that has become increasingly obvious since Di María’s retirement from international football.

No current player offers the same combination of pace, creativity, defensive commitment and tactical flexibility.

For years, Di María acted as Argentina’s Swiss Army knife—stretching defences, carrying the ball under pressure and allowing Messi greater freedom to influence games.

Even at 38, very few players can match his intensity.

Watching him today with Rosario Central, it’s easy to forget his age.

One final dream: Copa Libertadores glory

Di María has returned to Rosario not simply for nostalgia, but with one final ambition.

His performances have already made him one of the best players in the Argentine league, highlighted by decisive goals in consecutive Rosario clásicos against Newell’s Old Boys.

The pace remains. The dribbling remains. Above all, the mentality remains.

Now, the greatest remaining prize of his remarkable career is within reach.

With Rosario Central preparing to face Corinthians in the Copa Libertadores Round of 16, Di María once again finds himself exactly where he has always belonged—under the brightest lights, with everything on the line.

Throughout his career, whenever Argentina needed someone to decide the biggest matches, El Fideo almost always answered the call.

And when he wasn’t there, the difference was often impossible to ignore.

Now, after conquering Europe and helping Argentina win every major international trophy, Di María has one final chapter left to write.

Winning the Copa Libertadores with the club he has loved since childhood would be the perfect ending to one of football’s most extraordinary careers.