Di María: For us, the World Cup ended with the win over England

Ángel Di María once again found himself at the center of Argentine football discussions this Thursday, as his post-match comments sparked widespread reaction. Following Rosario Central's 2-1 defeat to Belgrano in the opening round of the 2026 Clausura tournament, "Fideo" offered a self-critical analysis of the game.

He admitted his team had a tough start in the first half but emphasized that their performance improved after the break, suggesting they didn't deserve to lose the away fixture. However, the main focus of his statement shifted to the Argentine national team's performance at the 2026 World Cup.

Di María was unequivocal, setting his own emotional boundary for the tournament. For him, "the World Cup ended with England," referring to the historic triumph of the "Albiceleste" in the semifinals. He highlighted that this result brought immense joy to the entire country, almost regardless of what happened in the final. "The victory over England brought the greatest joy to the country," he reiterated.

The 2022 Qatar World Cup winner also expressed a clear stance on the future of two key figures in the current cycle – Lionel Messi and Lionel Scaloni. Regarding the captain, he stated that despite being 39, Messi continues to prove why he is one of the greatest in history, expressing hope that he will continue to play for as long as he chooses. In the same vein, Di María also backed the national team coach, firmly supporting his continuation at the helm. "Scaloni is Scaloneta. Hopefully, he continues," he concluded.