Argentina's legendary winger Angel Di Maria has taken retirement from International football after Monday's Copa América 2024 final. He has been one of the best players for Argentina of this generation. Di Maria was playing in his fifth Copa America tournament and won the title for the second time. He also helped Argentina win the World Cup in 2022 and the Copa America in 2021 and scored in the finals of both tournaments.

Read Also: Best of Angel Di Maria: 7 times Argentina star stunned opponents.

Angel Di Maria's International Career, Stats and Records

Di Maria made his debut for the Argentina national team in 2008, at the age of 20. He played a key role for the Argentina team that won the gold medal at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing as he scored the only goal in the final against Nigeria.

In the 2014 World Cup, Di Maria was one of the main men in the Argentina squad and played a pivotal role in Argentina's journey to the final. He scored the winning goal in the quarterfinal against Switzerland. However, he missed the final due to an injury and Argentina went on to lose the final 1-0 to Germany.

In the 2015 Copa America, Di Maria was named the Player of the Tournament, helping Argentina once again to reach the final. However, they lost to Chile on penalties. He scored a sensational goal against France in a 4–3 defeat which saw Argentina eliminated from the World Cup in the Round of 16 in 2018. Despite giving his best, he wasn't finishing at the winner's end.

Everything turned around under manager Lionel Scaloni. In the 2021 Copa America final, against Brazil, Di Maria scored the only goal of the game to win Argentina their first trophy since 1993. He won another trophy a year later, scoring Argentina’s second goal in a 3-0 victory over UEFA Euro 2020 Champions Italy in the 2022 Finalissima.

He also scored in the 2022 FIFA World Cup final in Qatar against France. He was an integral part of Argentina. He also won his team a penalty and ultimately won the title with his nation. He started in the 2024 Copa America final against Colombia and La Albiceleste won by 1-0 at the end. Di Maria ended his International career with yet another major title.

Detailed Stats:

Total Appearances: 145

Total Goals: 31

Total Assists: 32

World Cup Appearances | Goals | Assists: 18-3-2

Copa America Appearances | Goals | Assists: 28-5-7

International Friendlies Appearances | Goals | Assists: 46-14-12

Angel Di Maria's best performances in the Major Finals

In 2008, during the Olympics in Beijing, Argentina faced Nigeria, aiming for their second gold medal in history. Lionel Messi's assist and Angel Di Maria scored the winner.

In the 2021 Copa America final, Di Maria became the hero by scoring the only goal against Brazil. He once again chipped the ball to score the winner. Argentina beat Brazil at the Maracana for the first time and lifted the trophy after 28 years of wait.

He also scored a goal in Argentina's 3-0 victory over Italy in the Finalissima 2022 at Wembley. It is the most important year in Angel Di Maria’s International career. Despite not playing most of the games in the World Cup 2022, he delivered in the final. Di Maria scored a goal and also won a penalty for the team. Argentina went on to lift the title after 36 years.

In the 2024 Copa America, he wasn't a regular starter but gave his best whenever got the opportunity. He started against Colombia in the Final and delivered a solid performance. 

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Angel Di Maria's Awards and Achievements

• Olympic Games Gold Medal: 2008
• FIFA World Cup Champion: 2022
• Copa América Champion: 2021, 2024
• CONMEBOL – UEFA Cup of Champions (Finalissima): 2022
  

Individual Awards: 

• Argentine Footballer of the Year: 2014
• FIFA FIFPro World11: 2014
• FIFA World Cup Dream Team: 2014
• IFFHS CONMEBOL Team of the Decade 2011–2020
  

Football has been included in every Summer Olympic Games as a men's competition sport, except in 1896 and 1932. As part of the Paris Olympics 2024 too, the Olympic football events have started before the opening ceremony, due to the large number of matches. Winning the Olympics is in itself a big achievement. But winning the Olympics and the FIFA World Cup for a professional football in their career is something rare and astonishing. In this article, we'll look at the players who have won the Olympics and FIFA World Cup in their careers.

Read Also: Football at Olympics: Knockouts Schedule for Men's Football at Paris Olympics 2024

Football at Olympics: Players who won the Olympics and FIFA World Cup in their career

Uruguay: Paris 1924 and Amsterdam 1928 Olympics | FIFA World Cup 1930

Uruguay won their first gold medal in the 1924 Paris Olympics after beating Switzerland by 3-0 in the Final. Before qualifying for the final, the South American nation trashed the host nation France 5-1 in the quarter-finals and beat the Netherlands by 2-1 in the semi-finals. teenage sensation Pedro Petrone established himself as the star. He was the top-scorer with seven goals, including one in the final and a brace in the quarter-final.

Four years later, the core of that team took home gold from Amsterdam, where Petrone starred once again alongside Pedro Cea and Jose Leandro Andrade. Uruguay were considered to be the strongest side and they delivered. Uruguay beat the hosts, the Netherlands by 2–0 to progress into the quarter-finals where they beat Germany by 4-1. The South American nation booked its place for the gold medal match against another South American heavyweight Argentina after beating Italy by 3-2 in the semis. 

Uruguay and Argentina played a 1-1 draw in the Final and had to play a replay to decide the winner. In the replay, La Celeste edged past La Albiceleste by 2-1 to win the gold medal for the second consecutive time.

In the inaugural edition of the FIFA World Cup in 1930, Uruguay were crowned the Champions of the World. Jose Nazassi once again led the side out as Uruguay lifted the trophy, defeating Argentina with a 4-2 scoreline in the final. La Celeste topped their respective group and then thrashed Yugoslavia by 6-1 in the semi-final. Pedro Cea scored a hat-trick in that game to send the team into the final.

Read Also: Football facts: Five managers who have coached Club and country at the same time

Italy: Berlin 1936 Olympics | FIFA World Cup 1938

The Azzurri were determined to win their first-ever gold medal in Men's football and they achieved that in the 1936 Berlin Olympics. Italy registered a hard-fought 1-0 victory in the round of 16 against the USA to qualify for the quarter-final. It was so easy for the Azzurri as they thrashed Japan by 8-0 to progress to the next round.

Italy beat Norway in extra time in the semi-final to qualify for the gold medal match against Austria. Annibale Frossi, who was the top goal scorer (7 goals) in the Men's Football event in the 1936 Berlin Olympics, scored a brace in the final to help the Azzurri win the gold medal.

Four players of that team represented the Italy team in the FIFA World Cup 1938 to defend the title. Defenders Alfredo Foni and Pietro Rava, as well as midfielder Uglo Locatelli all started the final against Hungary, with forward Sergio Bertoni also in the squad. The Azzurri beat Hungary by 4-2 in the Final to lift the World Cup for the second consecutive time. 

Argentina: Beijing 2008 Olympics | FIFA World Cup 2022

The men's football tournament at the 2008 Summer Olympics was held in Beijing and four other cities in the People's Republic of China from 7 to 23 August. Argentina beat Nigeria 1–0 in the final and held the record streak of 12 consecutive wins in football competitions at the Summer Olympics (six wins in 2004, six wins in 2008).

Argentina topped their group with 9 points and beat the Netherlands by 2-1 in extra time. Lionel Messi and Di Maria's La Albiceleste thrashed Brazil by 3-0 in the semi-final to reach the final to face Nigeria. With the help of Messi's assist, Di Maria scored the only goal in the final to help his nation the second-ever football gold medal in the Olympics.

14 years later of that Olympic success, the pair of Messi and Di Maria lifted the FIFA World Cup title. Di Maria netted a goal while Messi scored a brace against France in the Final. But, Kylian Mbappe's France didn't go down easily as he scored a hat-trick to take the game to penalties. Argentina won 4-2 on penalties to lift the World Cup title after 36 years.

Argentina are the most decorated football-playing nation in the world. They have won every possible trophy and with Lionel Messi leading the side to their third World Cup title in 2022, they are the best team on the planet earth right now. Argentina is administered by the governing body for football in Argentina, the Argentine Football Association.

The team's World Cup–winning managers are César Luis Menotti in 1978, Carlos Bilardo in 1986, and Lionel Scaloni in 2022. Several greats have played for La Albiceleste and won trophies. They were going through a tough phase as they hadn't won a major trophy since 1993. Argentina did win two back-to-back golds in the Olympics in 2004 and 2008 but they felt many heartbreaks in the Copa America and World Cup.

They ended the drought in 2021 after winning the Copa America for the record 15th time under Scaloni. Since then, Argentina have won the Finalissima and the World Cup.

Read Also: Trophies won by Spain in International Football (Men's)

A brief history of Argentina Men's National Football Team in Major Tournaments

Argentina are the reigning world champion, having won the World Cup in 2022. Overall, Argentina have appeared in a World Cup final six times. They played in the first-ever World Cup final in 1930 but lost 4–2 to Uruguay. In 1978, the team defeated the Netherlands 3–1 in extra time, becoming world champions for the first time. Diego Maradona led Argentina to their second World Cup title clinch eight years later, in 1986, with a 3–2 final victory over West Germany.

They reached the final in 1990 too, but were ultimately beaten 1–0 by West Germany. A couple of decades later, Argentina, led by Lionel Messi made their fifth final appearance in 2014 but lost to Germany 1–0 in extra time. In 2022, again under the leadership of Messi, Argentina reached the final. They were crowned world champions for the third time, beating France 4–2 on penalties, following a 3–3 draw after extra time.

Argentina are very successful in the Copa America, winning it 15 times, a record shared with Uruguay. They are the only nation to win the Copa America three consecutive times. The team won the inaugural FIFA Confederations Cup in 1992. La Albiceleste is the most successful team in the CONMEBOL–UEFA Cup of Champions. They have won it twice, in 1993 and 2022.

Argentina holds the record for most official titles won by a men's national team with 23 and are also ranked 1st in the FIFA Men's World Ranking.

Read Also: Trophies won by England in International Football (Men's)

Argentina Men's National Football Team Trophies List

Argentina have won 23 major International accolades and are the nation to win the most major international titles in football history.

Argentina won their first World Cup title in 1978. They had to wait 8 years for their second one but after waiting for a long thirty-six years, they lent their hands on their third World Cup title.

Argentina won their first Copa America title in 1921 and since then they have won 15 Copa Americas and are also the defending champions.

They were finding it very difficult to win the Copa title after 1993 but Lionel Messi led his side to victory in 2021 after beating Brazil by 1-0. They are in the final of the ongoing edition and are the favourites to lift the trophy.

Along with 3 World Cup trophies and 15 Copa America titles, Argentina are two two-time Olympic Gold medalist, a 1-time Confederations Cup champion, and have been crowned as the UEFA Cup of Champions two times.

• FIFA World Cup (3): 1978, 1986, 2022
• FIFA Confederations Cup (1): 1992
• South American Championship / Copa América (15): 1921, 1925, 1927, 1929, 1937, 1941, 1945, 1946, 1947, 1955, 1957, 1959, 1991, 1993, 2021
• CONMEBOL–UEFA Cup of Champions (1): 1993, 2022
• Panamerican Championship (1): 1960
• Olympics Games - Silver Medal (1): 1928; Gold Medal (2): 2004, 2008

Hello and welcome to Sportz Point's LIVE Coverage of the Copa America 2024 final between Argentina and Colombia at the Miami Gardens' Hard Rock Stadium. 

This is Koushik Biswas, who will bring you all the updates on the Argentina vs Colombia Copa America 2024 final from the web desk as Lionel Messi's Argentina look to become the most successful team in Copa America History. Meantime, James Rodriguez's Colombia take the title back home after some stunning performances in knockouts.

So, sit back and relax as we bring you all the latest of the game. You can also read the preview of this game, to have the right information before the final. 

Meantime, follow us on Twitter for all the updates on the most beautiful game, football. 

Lionel Scaloni's Argentina are set to face Néstor Lorenzo's Colombia in the Final of the Copa America 2024 at the Hard Rock Stadium in the USA on 15th July, Monday. Both sides are deservedly in the final. Argentina knocked out Canada in the semi-final to book their spot for the third straight Copa America final. At the same time, Colombia defeated one of the favourites Uruguay in the semis to reach the final. From possible starting XIs to Fantasy predictions, here is everything you need to know about the Argentina vs Colombia match in the Copa America 2024.

Read Also: Angel Di Maria's stats and records for Argentina

Match Details

• Match: Argentina vs Colombia - Copa America 2024 Final

• Date: 15/7/2024

• Time: 12:30 am (IST)

• Venue: Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida, United States

How to watch the Argentina vs Colombia Copa America 2024 match?

No official streaming platform in India is telecasting the Copa America 2024 matches.

Argentina vs Colombia: Head-to-Head stats

Argentina and Colombia have faced each other 42 times. Argentina are the dominant side with 25 victories while Colombia have registered victory only on 8 occasions. The other nine matches have ended in a draw.

• Matches: 42
• Argentina won: 25
• Colombia won: 8
• Draws: 9

#Efemérides 🧐 ¡A un tres años de la vuelta en el #Maracaná!

️🏆 Con un tanto de Ángel Di María, @Argentina 🇦🇷 derrotó 1-0 a #Brasil y ganó una nueva #CopaAmérica. pic.twitter.com/o9KWD92xWC

— 🇦🇷 Selección Argentina ⭐⭐⭐ (@Argentina) July 10, 2024

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Team News

Argentina

Argentina doesn't have any injury concerns ahead of the final on Monday. The players have gotten proper rest and Scaloni will have everyone available against Colombia. Emiliano Martinez will be at the goal and face much more challenges than he has faced in Copa America 2024.

Lisandro Martinez, Romero, Nahuel Molina, and Tagliafico are set to start at the back for the defending champions. Rodrigo de Paul will get support in the midfield with Mac Allister creating opportunities in front of them.

#SelecciónMayor Práctica vespertina de jueves con la mira puesta en la final del domingo ante @FCFSeleccionCol 🇨🇴

¡Faltan sólo tres días! 🤞🏼#OtraVezJuntos pic.twitter.com/37U2ruXoY8

— 🇦🇷 Selección Argentina ⭐⭐⭐ (@Argentina) July 12, 2024

Julian Alvarez started over Lautaro Martinez against Canada and scored a goal. Scaloni can start whoever he wants as both of them are in fine form. Angel Di Maria will probably start on the bench. It will be his last match for the national team and Scaloni will most likely bring him on in the second half.

But, he is a big game player and has always delivered for his nation so Scaloni can also give him a start over Gonzalez. Lionel Messi will start at the right and will try to score his second goal of the Copa America 2024. 

🏆 #CopaAmérica

🎶 Déjame que te lo explique, este es el verdadero desafío: nunca apuestes en contra de una araña 🤟 pic.twitter.com/OcJjBimmIF

— 🇦🇷 Selección Argentina ⭐⭐⭐ (@Argentina) July 10, 2024

Colombia

Colombia reached its third Copa America final (1975, 2001), and hopes to win its second title after being crowned champion in 2001. After a dramatic semi-final against Bielsa's Uruguay, they are now set to face the favourites and the defending champions Argentina in the final.

📸 ¡𝑼́𝒍𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒂 𝒑𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒅𝒂 𝑪𝒂𝒑𝒊? 😎

𝑳𝑨 𝑭𝑰𝑵𝑨𝑳, 𝒓𝒖𝒎𝒃𝒐 𝒂 𝑴𝒊𝒂𝒎𝒊 ✌️

Viajamos seguros con @assistcard#TodosSomosColombia 🇨🇴 pic.twitter.com/VLn3YqetRQ

— Selección Colombia (@FCFSeleccionCol) July 11, 2024

Colombia will miss Crystal Palace defender Daniel Munoz who was sent off against Uruguay just before the end of the first half. CONMEBOL hasn't banned any player yet so Colombia should have everyone available. Santiago Arias is set to come in for Munoz as the new right back with Sanchez, Cuesta, and Mojica being the other defenders.

Liverpool's Luis Diaz will lead the attack alongside captain James Rodriguez and Cordoba. Richard Rios is not fully fit and can be replaced by Uribe. Jefferson Lerma will take the responsibility of the midfield but he will face tough challenges against Argentina.

Possible XIs

Argentina's possible starting lineup

Emiliano Martinez; Molina, Romero, Lisandro Martinez, Tagliafico; De Paul, Fernandez, Mac Allister; Gonzalez, Alvarez, Messi

Colombia's possible starting lineup

Vargas; S. Arias, Sanchez, Cuesta, Mojica; Rios, Lerma; J. Arias, James, Diaz; Cordoba

Argentina vs Colombia: Fantasy XI Prediction

Emiliano Martinez; Nahuel Molina, Cristian Romero, Lisandro Martinez, Johan Mojica; Jefferson Lerma, Rodrigo De Paul, Alexis Mac Allister; James Rodriguez, Julian Alvarez, Lionel Messi

Some Uruguayan fans along with player Darwin Nunez got into a fight with some Colombian fans right after the final whistle of the Copa America semi-final match between Uruguay and Colombia. 

Colombia won the match by 1-0 and qualified for the Copa America 2024 final with the help of Jefferson Lerma. James Rodriguez created history by becoming the player with the most assists in a single edition of Copa America (6).

However, just like the other games, this was also a physical match and Colombian player Daniel Munoz was shown a second yellow card just before halftime for an elbow to the chest of Manuel Ugarte of Uruguay.

Colombia won despite being 10-men

Despite playing the full second half with 10 men, Colombia were able to win the match and set a date with Argentina in the final on Sunday (Monday in IST).

Right after the final whistle, Uruguayan players from the bench went straight to the stands. Darwin Nunez and Ronald Araujo were seen among them. They were seen fighting with some Colombian fans.