Di Maria reveals retirement thoughts
Angel Di Maria almost followed Lionel Messi into Argentina retirement after the Copa America Centenario.
![](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/XvQTQvzBacM3FR4CtDmijH.jpg)
Argentina attacker Angel Di Maria revealed he was close to announcing his international retirement after the Copa America Centenario final loss.
Lionel Messi quit internationals, a decision he has since reversed, in the wake of the penalty shoot-out loss to Chile in June.
Reports suggested numerous players, including Di Maria, were considering doing likewise.
The Paris Saint-Germain star said he was close to international retirement after a third straight final defeat, following on from the 2014 World Cup and 2015 Copa America.
"When Messi retired, I thought about doing the same," Di Maria told TyC Sports.
"You can lose a final, but three in a row, that's something different. I thought about leaving the national team, but my wife and my father stopped me."
However, Di Maria, 28, warned he would call it quits if Argentina tasted defeat in another final.
Get FourFourTwo Newsletter
The best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.
"I almost started therapy, but in the end I decided it was something I had to figure out by myself," he said.
"If I lose another final, that's it."
Argentina sit third in CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying ahead of matches against Peru and Paraguay.
![LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 5: Arne Slot Manager of Liverpool congratulates Mohamed Salah of Liverpool after the 4-0 victory during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD4 match between Liverpool FC and Bayer 04 Leverkusen at Anfield on November 5, 2024 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Crystal Pix/MB Media/Getty Images)](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/q3ie7X2vDDiU7X6C9HVRK7-840-80.jpg)
‘The pure simplicity of the way Slot has managed the squad is probably the biggest thing I could say about him. It’s not broken, so let’s get on with it’: Liverpool legend full of admiration for Jurgen Klopp's successor at Anfield
![CARDIFF, UNITED KINGDOM - JUNE 02: Wales captain Ryan Giggs shakes the hand of manager John Toshack after being substituted on his last International appearance for his country during the Euro 2008 Group D Qualifying Match between Wales and Czech Republic at the Millennium Stadium on June 2, 2007 in Cardiff, Wales. Photo by (Stu Forster/Getty Images)](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ooQ9oNmgvfUUG8TBUhn6BK-840-80.jpg)
‘I trained at Spurs and thought they’d give me a chance. But I received a letter thanking me but saying they didn’t think I was good enough – I was gutted’: How Tottenham missed out on signing Wales legend John Toshack