Messi hopes Di Maria signs off with ´another goal´ in Copa America final

Lionel Messi hopes team-mate Angel Di Maria can sign off with “another goal” when Argentina face Colombia in Sunday’s Copa America final.

Di Maria announced in November that the tournament in the United States would mark the last time he represents his country, for whom he has earned 144 caps.

The 36-year-old has played a crucial role in La Albiceleste’s success in recent years, scoring the winner against Brazil in the 2021 Copa America final, while netting in the 2022 World Cup final victory over France.

Di Maria, who also scored the only goal against Nigeria in the 2008 Olympic final, continues to demonstrate his importance for Lionel Scaloni’s side, playing in four of their five games en route to their sixth Copa final in eight editions.

And Messi wants his fellow winger to make one more vital contribution before bringing the curtain down on his illustrious international career.

“Who knows? Maybe he’ll score another goal in the final, like he did in all the previous ones he’s played in. It would be extraordinary,” the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner said in an interview with Direct TV Sports.

“We always tell him that if everything goes well, we have World Cup qualifiers coming up. Nevertheless, ‘Fideo’ [Di Maria] has made up his mind and there’s nothing that can change it.”

#CopaAmérica

¡¡¡SOMOS FINALISTAS, UNA VEZ MÁS!!!

¡No te bajes ahora de la #Scalonetaque queda una última parada!pic.twitter.com/DxmdWKWNis

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