02:27Argentinian national team footballer Julian Alvarez says that his country's latest victory against Canada in the semi-final of the 2024 Copa America was a 'present' for the departing Angel Di Maria during an interview on Tuesday following the match in East Rutherford.
Di Maria announced in November that he plans to retire from international football following the competition, with favourites Argentina today booking their berth in the final with a 2-0 win over Canada.
"It is a present for Fideo [Di Mario] to make it to another final. Leo [Messi] said it, he deserves it for all he fought, and hopefully, he will stay until he wants, he is very important," said Alvarez.
Argentina’s goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez added that he hopes Di Mario, who plans to retire after the tournament, will 'never leave', adding that the team is trying to convince him to stay.
"We fight to get to every final, which is not easy. There is a lot of merit in this for the team," said Di Maria after the game.
Unless he has a change of heart, the 36-year-old Di Maria, who plays his club football for Benfica in Portugal, will play his last game for his country in Miami on Sunday, in the final against the winner of Uruguay and Colombia in the competition's other semi final.
Di Maria wrote on Instagram that 'the Copa America will be the last time I wear the Argentine shirt, with all the pain of the soul and feeling a lump in my throat I say goodbye to the most beautiful thing that happened to me in my career, dress it, sweat it and FEEL it with all my pride'.
Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni earlier indicated his intention to try to convince Di Maria not to retire 'earlier than needed'. "We have to let him play, and then we'll see if we can convince him to stay with us," he said.
Since making his international debut in 2008, Di Maria has scored 31 goals in 144 appearances over a glittering 16-year international career. He won the 2022 Qatar World Cup, the 2021 Copa America and the 2008 Olympic gold medal.
'Present for Fideo' - Alvarez says Argentina's Copa America final fitting tribute to retiring Angel Di Maria
Argentinian national team footballer Julian Alvarez says that his country's latest victory against Canada in the semi-final of the 2024 Copa America was a 'present' for the departing Angel Di Maria during an interview on Tuesday following the match in East Rutherford.
Di Maria announced in November that he plans to retire from international football following the competition, with favourites Argentina today booking their berth in the final with a 2-0 win over Canada.
"It is a present for Fideo [Di Mario] to make it to another final. Leo [Messi] said it, he deserves it for all he fought, and hopefully, he will stay until he wants, he is very important," said Alvarez.
Argentina’s goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez added that he hopes Di Mario, who plans to retire after the tournament, will 'never leave', adding that the team is trying to convince him to stay.
"We fight to get to every final, which is not easy. There is a lot of merit in this for the team," said Di Maria after the game.
Unless he has a change of heart, the 36-year-old Di Maria, who plays his club football for Benfica in Portugal, will play his last game for his country in Miami on Sunday, in the final against the winner of Uruguay and Colombia in the competition's other semi final.
Di Maria wrote on Instagram that 'the Copa America will be the last time I wear the Argentine shirt, with all the pain of the soul and feeling a lump in my throat I say goodbye to the most beautiful thing that happened to me in my career, dress it, sweat it and FEEL it with all my pride'.
Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni earlier indicated his intention to try to convince Di Maria not to retire 'earlier than needed'. "We have to let him play, and then we'll see if we can convince him to stay with us," he said.
Since making his international debut in 2008, Di Maria has scored 31 goals in 144 appearances over a glittering 16-year international career. He won the 2022 Qatar World Cup, the 2021 Copa America and the 2008 Olympic gold medal.
Argentinian national team footballer Julian Alvarez says that his country's latest victory against Canada in the semi-final of the 2024 Copa America was a 'present' for the departing Angel Di Maria during an interview on Tuesday following the match in East Rutherford.
Di Maria announced in November that he plans to retire from international football following the competition, with favourites Argentina today booking their berth in the final with a 2-0 win over Canada.
"It is a present for Fideo [Di Mario] to make it to another final. Leo [Messi] said it, he deserves it for all he fought, and hopefully, he will stay until he wants, he is very important," said Alvarez.
Argentina’s goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez added that he hopes Di Mario, who plans to retire after the tournament, will 'never leave', adding that the team is trying to convince him to stay.
"We fight to get to every final, which is not easy. There is a lot of merit in this for the team," said Di Maria after the game.
Unless he has a change of heart, the 36-year-old Di Maria, who plays his club football for Benfica in Portugal, will play his last game for his country in Miami on Sunday, in the final against the winner of Uruguay and Colombia in the competition's other semi final.
Di Maria wrote on Instagram that 'the Copa America will be the last time I wear the Argentine shirt, with all the pain of the soul and feeling a lump in my throat I say goodbye to the most beautiful thing that happened to me in my career, dress it, sweat it and FEEL it with all my pride'.
Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni earlier indicated his intention to try to convince Di Maria not to retire 'earlier than needed'. "We have to let him play, and then we'll see if we can convince him to stay with us," he said.
Since making his international debut in 2008, Di Maria has scored 31 goals in 144 appearances over a glittering 16-year international career. He won the 2022 Qatar World Cup, the 2021 Copa America and the 2008 Olympic gold medal.