Di Maria: Anyway, Messi must participate in the 2026 World Cup

After saying goodbye to European football and Argentina national team, Angel Di Maria returns to where his football began - Rosario. Recently, in an in-depth interview with Argentina's "National" newspaper, the 37-year-old legend, smiling, told everything about his return, his family and Messi.

【I would like to experience all the hardships again, just to feel the love now】

Life back to my hometown is full of warmth and sweet troubles. Di Maria smiled and said that his license plates were remembered by fans. Despite receiving death threats from gangsters last year, he refused to be trapped in the house, but chose to pick up and drop off children, have dinner with friends, and enjoy the company of his family like an ordinary person.

"I am very happy and very satisfied because I realized my dream." Di Maria said, "Going back to life in Argentina is the wish of my family and me. Wearing the jersey in Rosario again is the last piece of the puzzle of my ideal life." What surprised him even more was the love from the fans. "Even on the away game, the fans still applauded and cheered me. I realized that the achievements we have moved more people than I thought."

When asked whether to resent the criticisms that had caused him torment, his answer showed the angel's pattern:

"No, I don't resent anyone. I'm willing to go through it again, exactly the same, as long as the ending of the story is like this. I'm willing to go through any hardships and feel the love I feel now."

[My wife is everything to me]

In the interview, Di Maria also talked about his family and wife Joggilina.

His iconic heart-to-heart celebration comes from a love story. In 2007, when he first went to Europe to play football, Jogirina hesitated whether to give up everything and go to Lisbon to accompany him. Eventually, she bets on Di Maria. When she first watched the ball, Di Maria scored the goal and he ran to where she sat and drew a heart with his hands. From then on, this action became his lucky charm.

"She is everything to me," Di Maria said emotionally, "She is always by my side, especially when I am in trouble. When you can't talk, someone can be by your side and support the sky for you. She is my heart."

[Messi is like coming from another planet]

When talking about Lionel Messi, the most important comrade in his life, Di Maria's tone was full of unquestionable affirmation.

"Yes, Messi must participate in the 2026 World Cup anyway. Because he is Messi, he keeps the team improving and makes fans hopeful. He is like Diego Maradona, unique, from another planet."

Interestingly, these two Rosario Gemini, who were born in the same hospital and only 235 days apart, never met in childhood. "The first time I knew about Leo was when the media mentioned a boy from Rosario, who was about to make his debut in Barcelona," Di Maria recalled. It was not until the 2008 Beijing Olympics that they began a great journey from going through hardships to finally moving towards immortal glory.

For his future, 37-year-old Di Maria said that although she is studying coaching courses, she is not sure whether she will coach. “I’ve seen how much time the coaches sacrificed for this to spend with their family,” he said. “I still live as a player and enjoy it more than ever.”