Di María Hints at Retirement After Libertadores Exit

Ángel Di María has hinted that he could bring his illustrious playing career to an unexpected end after Rosario Central were eliminated from the Copa Libertadores by Corinthians.

The Argentine World Cup winner was visibly disappointed following Rosario Central’s 1–0 defeat to Corinthians on Thursday. The result ended the club’s campaign in the round of 16 and left Di María facing an uncertain decision over his future.

The defeat carried an added sense of poignancy because the match was played at the same stadium where Di María produced one of the defining moments of his international career 12 years ago. Representing Argentina against Switzerland, he scored a memorable extra-time goal that sent his country into the quarter-finals of the World Cup. Argentina subsequently progressed to the final, where they were beaten by Germany.

This time, however, the same venue brought a very different emotion.

Speaking to ESPN after the second leg, Di María admitted that the outcome was difficult to accept. He said he had hoped for a different ending and had wanted to continue playing, but acknowledged that football does not always follow the script a player expects.

“I wanted to continue playing, but this is football. Now I have to think about what I want to do next,” Di María said.

He also spoke to Fox Sports about Rosario Central’s performance, insisting that his side had opportunities to score but failed to take them.

“We had chances to score, but the match did not develop in the way we wanted. We fought hard, but we could not make the most of our opportunities,” he said.

The defeat comes at a particularly significant point in Di María’s career. After spending 18 years playing in Europe, the winger returned to his boyhood club in the middle of 2025. His European career included spells with some of the continent’s most prominent clubs, while he also established himself as a key figure in one of the most successful periods in Argentine football history.

Di María was an important member of Argentina’s team that won the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. He also played a decisive role in the 2021 Copa América final against Brazil, scoring the only goal of the match as Argentina ended a long wait for a major international trophy.

His international career has also been marked by a succession of important goals and performances. Alongside the World Cup and Copa América triumphs, he was part of Argentina’s team that won the 2022 Finalissima against Italy. His ability to operate from the wing, deliver dangerous crosses and create opportunities has made him one of Argentina’s most recognisable players of his generation.

Despite his age, Di María has remained productive since returning to Rosario Central. He has made 43 appearances for the club since his return, scoring 14 goals and providing seven assists. Those figures underline the attacking contribution he has continued to make even in the later stages of his career.

There is also a contractual reason why retirement would come as a surprise at this stage. Rosario Central extended Di María’s contract in June until June 2027. If he remains at the club until the agreement expires, he will be 39 years old.

That does not necessarily mean he will play until then. His latest comments suggest that the decision could come earlier, although Di María has not announced his retirement or set a date for ending his career.

For now, the Argentine has time to consider his next move. Yet his words after the Libertadores exit have opened the possibility that one of Argentina’s most decorated players could be approaching the final chapter of a remarkable career.

For Rosario Central supporters, the hope will be that the 2027 contract gives them at least another season to watch their boyhood hero in the club’s colours. For Di María, however, the next decision is likely to be a deeply personal one: whether to continue competing at the highest level or bring an extraordinary football journey to a close.