‘Not retired yet’: Di Maria makes desperate plea to Lionel Messi after Argentina World Cup agony | Football News
Ángel Di María has urged Lionel Messi not to retire from international football after Argentina’s heartbreaking loss to Spain in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final, insisting the captain should continue to represent his country “for many more years” despite yet another painful end on football’s biggest stage.Substitute Ferran Torres scored the decisive goal in the 106th minute as Spain won 1-0 in overtime at the New Jersey Stadium in New York to claim their second Men’s World Cup title. The defeat ended Argentina’s hopes of defending the trophy they won in Qatar four years ago and immediately turned attention to Messi’s international future.Messi, 39, has yet to confirm whether he intends to continue playing for Argentina.
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Although the 2026 World Cup is widely expected to be his last, his future remains uncertain.Di Maria, who retired from international football after helping Argentina win the 2024 Copa America, believes his long-term teammate should not be under pressure to leave.
Di Maria hopes Messi will continue playing football
Di Maria told TNT Sports that Messi should alone decide when his international career ends.“Yes, Leo should continue as long as he wants,” Di Maria said. “I think he’s got many more years left in him.”The former Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain and Benfica winger believes Messi’s performance at the World Cup proves that age has not diminished his influence.“At 39 years old, he has proven that he is one of the best players and is still the best player in history. There is no ceiling.”Although Argentina ultimately lost the final, Messi once again shouldered much of the creative burden for Lionel Scaloni’s side in the match.He ended the World Cup with eight goals and four assists, leading Argentina to their second consecutive final after playing a decisive role in the knockout rounds.
Heartbreak in the final won’t define Argentina’s journey
Torres scored in the second period of extra time shortly after Enzo Fernandez was sent off after receiving a second yellow card in stoppage time of regular time, ending Argentina’s title defense.Reduced to 10 men, Argentina were unable to equalize and Spain’s control of possession eventually translated into the goal that sealed the win.Despite the disappointment, DiMaria believes the game should be remembered for more than just New Jersey’s loss.He pointed to Argentina’s dramatic 2-1 victory over England in the semi-finals as one of the defining moments of the World Cup.“Victory against England is a huge joy for all of Argentina, that’s obvious and makes me very happy,” he said.“I am forever grateful to everyone in the Argentina team.”Looking back on the team’s journey, Di Maria praised Scaloni’s players for the resilience they showed throughout the game.“I was in pain every game but the players found the strength within themselves and it led them to victory.”“Sometimes you win finals, sometimes luck is not on your side, but they raise the national team’s reputation.”The 38-year-old even said that emotionally, Argentina’s run into the final has left lasting memories.“For me, the World Cup is over when Argentina beats England,” he said. “They have brought indescribable joy to this country.”
Di Maria also backed Scaloni to continue
Messi is not the only senior figure whose future has been discussed following the tournament.Speculation has swirled about head coach Lionel Scaloni after Argentina narrowly missed out on back-to-back World Cup titles, but Di Maria hopes the manager will remain responsible for guiding the next generation.“I hope he continues to serve everyone’s interests because there is a generation of good young players who are looking for glory,” Di Maria said.“He’ll know what he wants, but I want him to stay.”
Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni leaves the field after the World Cup final football match between Spain and Argentina on Sunday, July 19, 2026 in East Rutherford, New Jersey, near New York. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
The Argentina squad still consists of experienced leaders and emerging talent capable of competing for future honors, making continuity an attractive option as preparations finally begin for the next major international cycle.
Messi has yet to reveal his next international decision
Messi has largely stayed out of the spotlight since the final defeat and has not spoken publicly about whether he plans to continue playing for Argentina.His immediate focus is expected to shift back to club football at Inter Miami as the MLS season resumes, while another World Cup appearance seems unlikely given his age.However, participation in the 2028 Copa America remains a real possibility if Messi decides to extend his international career.For Di Maria, the message is simple: As long as Messi continues to perform like he did at the 2026 World Cup, there is no reason to put an artificial deadline on one of the greatest international careers in football history.
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