Di María established himself as one of the best players in the world. His footballing journey has taken him from the streets of Rosario to some of the biggest clubs in Europe. Ángel has left a lasting impact on the sport, showcasing his incredible talent, technique, and versatility on the pitch.
He has won numerous accolades, including a La Liga title, a UEFA Champions League title, and several national team awards, cementing his place in football history. With his creative flair, speed, and goal scoring ability, Di María has become a fan favourite. In order to fully appreciate the achievements of Ángel Di María, lets look into the Argentine footballer’s storied career.
Ángel Di María’s time at SL Benfica
After impressing in Argentina Di María made the move to Europe, joining Portuguese side SL Benfica at the age of 19. Here, the Argentine continued to showcase his talents at an extremely young age. During his time in Portugal Ángel was backed by none other than Diego Maradona to become “Argentina’s next superstar.”
The unsung hero of the La Decima triumph
Real Madrid’s “La Decima” Champions League triumph in 2014 was a historic moment for the club and its fans. La Decima, meaning the 10th, referred to Real Madrid’s quest to win their 10th Champions League title. It had been a long wait, as the last time they had lifted the prestigious trophy was in 2002.
In the final Real Madrid faced bitter rivals Atletico Madrid. Atletico managed to keep Real Madrid from scoring before Sergio Ramos headed home a 90th minute equaliser to take the game to extra time. With 10 minutes of extra time remaining Real Madrid needed to take the lead before the game headed to penalties.
With hope running out Real Madrid looked to the heavens and the Angel appeared. Di María dribbled past two players before producing a save from goalkeeper Courtois. Gareth Bale was there to head the rebound into the net in the 110th minute, giving Real Madrid a 2–1 lead.
Di María’s Manchester Mare
The following season Ángel Di María joined Manchester United for a fee of £57.9 million. At the time, this was one of the most expensive transfers of all time and the highest fee ever paid by a British club at the time. However, Di María at Manchester United would not live up to the high expectations. The Argentine star finish the season with only 4 goals and falling out with manager Louis van Gaal.
Ángel’s Fresh Start at Paris Saint-Germain FC
Ángel Di María’s time at PSG has been marked by success and silverware. After joining the club in the summer of 2015, the Argentine international quickly established himself as a key player in the PSG attack, providing pace, creativity, and a goalscoring threat from the wing.
Di María played a crucial role in helping PSG win several Ligue 1 titles, as well as making deep runs in the Champions League. His ability to link up with fellow forwards Neymar and Kylian Mbappe made PSG one of the most feared attacking teams in Europe. Off the pitch, Di Maria has adapted well to life in Paris and became a fan favourite. He ended his spell at PSG with 92 goals and 112 assists in 295 matches.
Ángel’s international success
Ángel Di María’s international success came much later in his career. In 2021 the Argentine helped his nation win their first Copa América title in 28 years by scoring the winning goal in the final.
In the 2022 World Cup final Di María would have yet another standout performance in a game that would see his nation win on penalties. Ángel would win a penalty and score a goal to put his team up 2-0 in the first half. His strong performance in the final was a fitting climax to a successful World Cup campaign, and cemented himself as one of the key figures in Argentina’s triumph.
Di María is now 34 seeing out the last of his playing days at Juventus. He has written his name in the history books for both club and country. Here’s to Ángel Di María one of the most underrated players of our generation.
Read more of our WNR Wednesday content here.