Argentina’s World Cup-winning star Angel Di Maria has raised major questions about his future after Rosario Central’s exit from the Copa Libertadores. Amid the disappointment of defeat, the 37-year-old veteran winger spoke of the possibility of retirement.
Rosario Central lost 1-0 to Corinthians on Thursday in the second leg of the Copa Libertadores round of 16. Di Maria was naturally devastated after the defeat. The moment carried extra emotional weight because 12 years earlier, at the same stadium, he had scored for Argentina against Switzerland — the goal that sent him toward his first World Cup final.
Speaking to ESPN after the match, Di Maria spoke of the uncertainty surrounding his future. “This is a difficult moment,” he said. “I had a different dream. I wanted to keep playing. But that’s football. Now I have to think about what I want to do going forward.”
The Argentine star also expressed his disappointment over the match to Fox Sports. “We had chances to score, but the match didn’t go the way we wanted to play it,” he said. “We fought hard, but we couldn’t take our chances.”
After 18 years in European football, Di Maria returned to his childhood club, Rosario Central, in mid-2025. Last June, he extended his contract with the club by another year. Under the new deal, he is due to stay at the club until June 2027, by which point he will be 39.
However, one of Argentina’s most successful footballers could decide to retire before his contract expires. His recent comments have at least hinted at that possibility.
Since returning to Rosario Central, Di Maria has played 43 matches, scoring 14 goals and providing seven assists. Following the exit from the Copa Libertadores, fans are now waiting to see what he decides next.
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