While questions continue to swirl around the retirement timeline of Argentine legend Lionel Messi, one of his most faithful teammates and servants has admitted to the mortality to his own national team career.
Angel Di Maria, who has played alongside Messi for nearly the entirety of their international careers, has called time on his career with Argentina.
The 35-year-old earned his Argentina debut at the hands of Alfio Basile in September of 2008, starting a World Cup qualifier against Paraguay that ended in a 1-1 draw. Those 45 minutes ignited one of the most well-known Argentina careers of the modern era, as Di Maria would reach 134 caps by the time he announced his plans for retirement.
Di Maria's service to his country has seen him reach fourth on the all-time Argentina caps list, 11 behind Javier Zanetti in third and 13 back of second-place Javier Mascherano. With just three World Cup qualifiers remaining on Argentina's schedule, plus any friendlies scheduled in early 2024, Di Maria will be hard-pressed to reach and pass those above him, but a deep run in the 2024 Copa America could see it come to pass.
MORE: Argentina tops Colombia 1-0 in Copa America final on Lautaro Martinez goal
Angel Di Maria to retire from Argentina after 2024 Copa America
Angel Di Maria has stated he will retire from international duty following the 2024 Copa America.
“I will leave the Argentina national team after Copa America, it’s over for me,” Di Maria told Argentine radio station Todo Pasa the day of their October qualifying match against Peru. 
“I hugged Messi at PSG and told him, 'the only thing I'm grateful for is to have been able to play with you in a club, to be able to see you every day.'”
There were questions about his potential retirement after that tournament, but he has since soldiered on into the start of CONMEBOL 2026 World Cup qualification.
Di Maria helped his side win the Copa America title, starting the final and playing 117 minutes on the left wing, which is the opposite side that he normally plays. “Angel has played amazing matches for us, but today was one of the best games for him," said head coach Lionel Scaloni after the final. "He had a great attitude to press, and when everyone was starting to feel the exhaustion, he was running like he was 25 years old. It was a reflection of his status with this national team.”
MORE: Lautaro Martinez winner in Copa America final a career-defining goal after Di Maria retirement
Will Angel Di Maria get a send-off match with Argentina?
While it was expected that the 2024 Copa America final would be his last international match, head coach Lionel Scaloni hinted that there may be one more game.
Scaloni said in his post-match press conference following the extra-time win over Colombia that Argentina will look to arrange a send-off match for Di Maria so he can get a proper farewell.
It's unclear when this match would take place or who the opponent with, but it would be a true nod to his stature with Argentina if he were given one more chance to allow fans to give him their full appreciation before his international retirement.
Argentina wins 2024 Copa America in United States
The Albiceleste defended their Copa America title from 2021 by achieving a second straight CONMEBOL title in 2024 on U.S. soil.
After a scoreless draw in regulation of the final, a 112th minute goal from Lautaro Martinez secured a 1-0 victory over Colombia to lift the trophy.
They had reached the knockout stage by topping Group A over Canada, Chile, and Peru before knocking off Ecuador in the quarterfinals and Canada again in the semifinal.
