One night in early June 2022, at Wembley stadium, England, Angel di Maria ran to the touchline. Spreading his arms like an illustration of an angel spreading his wings. Angelito or little angel. This nickname deserves to be juxtaposed with the figure of Angel di Maria. Not only because he was named Angel. But the Argentine winger became a hero in the three finals that led the Argentine national team to become champions.
Di Maria is the goalscorer in Argentina’s three top-flight victories. On two occasions, namely in the race for the 2008 Olympic gold medal and the 2021 Copa America final, Di Maria is the only goal scorer. Finally, Di Maria contributed one of the three goals in Argentina’s victory over Italy in the 2022 Finalissima duel.
What’s interesting is that Di Maria does it in a similar and impressive way. Three of Di Maria’s goals were beautiful goals scored with chip kicks. Curl kick that goes past the keeper. Fourteen years ago after beating Brazil 3-0 in the semifinals, Argentina met Nigeria in the race for the gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. They were the reigning champions of the previous edition.
Playing at the Bird Nests stadium, Di Maria emerged as the only goal scorer in Argentina’s victory. Receiving a pass from Lionel Messi in the 58th minute, Di Maria made a solo run from the center circle combing the right side of the opponent’s defense.
And with a left-footed effort, Di Maria beat Nigeria goalkeeper Ambrose Vanzekin with a lob from the front of the box. Argentina won 1-0 and won the gold medal. In the following years Di Maria failed to help the Albiceleste, the nickname of Argentina on two occasions. Twice played in the 2015 and 2016 Copa America finals, they lost twice to Chile.
But just like a wheel that turns, sometimes up and sometimes down, Di Maria is back at the point where good fortune overshadows him. The third chance came. Di Maria with the Tango team, Argentina, returned to appear in the Copa America final in July 2021 after taming Colombia in the semifinals.
In the final on Sunday, July 11 2021, Di Maria and his friends will face Brazil, the home team as well as the favorites to win. The Maracana Stadium witnessed the battle between the two best South American teams. This match seems destined to be Di Maria’s. The match that became the stage where Di Maria again showed off his skills. A gouged kick was shown again by Di Maria when he broke into the opponent’s goal.
This time Di Maria missed the ball over the head of Brazil goalkeeper Ederson Moraes. As soon as Rodrigo de Paul’s long pass from midfield, Di Maria moved quickly into the box, ahead of three Brazilian players. And with a touch of his left foot a spectacular goal was created again. This goal at the Maracana means a lot, both to the Argentine national team and to Di Maria himself. When asked to choose which is more memorable between his goals at the 2008 Beijing Olympics or the Copa America Brasil 2021, Di Maria firmly answered goals in the Copa America final.
How not. One goal from Di Maria not only ensured victory over Brazil, but also has become a cure for the Argentine public’s longing for a trophy. Yes, the Argentine Tango team just lifted the trophy again after 28 years of waiting. 1993 was the last year they won the tournament between the Latin American countries by beating Mexico in the final. After that they lost four times in the final. Twice defeated by Brazil in 2004 and 2007 and twice also lost to Chile in 2015 and 2016. So the success in 2021 feels very valuable.
Being a hero twice, doesn’t make Di Maria feel like a great player. Lionel Messi’s colleague remained humble and said he would return to continue his action as a team hero. Eleven months passed. Di Maria fulfilled her promise. Di Maria scored again for Argentina. Still the same way. Chip kick past the goalkeeper.
Di Maria is again a hero, but not alone this time. There are two other names. Lautaro Martinez and Paulo Dybala. The three of them contributed three goals to Argentina’s 3-0 victory over Italy in the Finalissima duel at Wembley stadium, England, Wednesday, 01 June 2022 local time.
This Finalissima match brings together the EURO champions, namely Italy, with the Copa America champions, namely Argentina. This tournament had previously been held twice in 1985 and 1993 and in which France and Argentina emerged victorious. Di Maria became Argentina’s second goal scorer in the 45+1 minute after Lautaro Martinez’s first. As if to remind again of his spectacular goal last year, Di Maria scored again in almost the same way.
Moving alone down the right, Di Maria darted past Giorgio Chiellini into the box. A through ball from Lautaro Martinez, followed by a left-footed kick to form a parabolic trajectory. This time past the Italian goalkeeper, Gianluigi Donnarumma. What a beautiful goal. Argentina won the title again. And Di Maria lifted the second trophy in less than a year. A special achievement for sure. Unconsciously, Di Maria has been strengthening the Argentine national team for almost fifteen years. He has been recorded 122 times wearing the blue and white uniform, the pride of Argentina by scoring 25 goals.
It’s time to part. Next year we may no longer see the stunning actions of Di Maria in Argentina’s uniform. The 34-year-old has stated that he will retire from the national team after the Qatar World Cup at the end of 2022. However, the memories of Angel di Maria will not just disappear. Memories of a shrewd midfielder and his quick moves. Memories of a player who turned into an “angelito” who wowed many with his gouging goal.
ASL
