Ángel Di María has urged Lionel Messi not to retire from international football following Argentina’s defeat to Spain in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final, insisting the captain should continue to represent his country for “many more years” despite another painful end on football’s biggest stage.Spain claimed their second men’s World Cup title with a 1-0 extra-time victory at the New York New Jersey Stadium after substitute Ferran Torres scored the decisive goal in the 106th minute. The defeat ended Argentina’s hopes of retaining the trophy won in Qatar four years earlier and immediately shifted attention to Messi’s international future.At 39, Messi has yet to confirm whether he intends to continue playing for Argentina.
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While the 2026 tournament is widely expected to be his final World Cup, his future beyond that remains uncertain.Di María, who retired from international football after helping Argentina win the 2024 Copa América, believes there should be no pressure on his long-time partner to walk away.
Di María wants Messi to continue playing
Speaking to TNT Sports, Di María said that Messi alone has to decide when his international career ends.“Yes, Leo should continue as long as he wants,” said Di María. “I think it can go on for many years.”The former Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain and Benfica winger argued that Messi’s performances throughout the World Cup have shown that age has done little to diminish his influence.“At 39, he has proven to be one of the best and still the best in history, without a roof.”Although Argentina finished just short in the final, Messi once again carried most of the creative load for Lionel Scaloni’s side during the tournament.He finished the World Cup with eight goals and four assists, leading Argentina to a second consecutive finals after inspiring several decisive performances in the knockout rounds.
The heartbreak in the final does not define Argentina’s campaign
Argentina’s title defense came to an end after Torres capitalized in the second period of extra time, shortly after Enzo Fernández had been sent off in stoppage time following a second yellow card.Reduced to 10 men, Argentina were unable to find an equalizer as Spain’s control of possession eventually translated into the goal that set up the final.Despite the disappointment, Di María believes the campaign should be remembered for much more than the defeat in New Jersey.He singled out Argentina’s dramatic 2-1 semi-final win over England as one of the tournament’s defining moments.“The victory over England was a great joy for all of Argentina, and that was clear and made me very happy,” he said.“I am forever grateful to everyone in the Argentina team.”Reflecting on the team’s journey, Di María praised the resilience shown by Scaloni’s players throughout the competition.“I suffered in every match, but the players found the strength in themselves and it led them to victories.”“Sometimes you win finals and sometimes luck is not on your side, but they raised the name of the national team high.”The 38-year-old also suggested that, emotionally, Argentina had already delivered a lasting memory before reaching the final.“For me, the World Cup is over when Argentina beat England,” he said. “They gave the village indescribable joy.”
Di María also supports Scaloni to continue
Messi is not the only senior figure whose future has been discussed after the tournament.Speculation has also surrounded head coach Lionel Scaloni after Argentina narrowly missed out on the World Cup titles, but Di María hopes the manager remains in charge of guiding the next generation.“I hope it continues for the benefit of everyone, as there is a good generation of young players looking for glory,” said Di María.“It will be what he wants, but I hope he stays.”
Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni leaves the field after the World Cup final soccer match between Spain and Argentina in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Sunday, July 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Argentina’s squad still features a mix of experienced leaders and emerging talent capable of competing for future honours, making continuity an attractive option as preparations eventually begin for the next major international cycle.
Messi has not yet revealed his next international decision
Messi has been largely out of the spotlight since the final defeat and has not publicly said whether he intends to continue playing for Argentina.His immediate focus is expected to return to club football with Inter Miami as the MLS season resumes, while another World Cup looks highly unlikely given his age.The 2028 Copa América, however, remains a realistic possibility if Messi decides to extend his international career.For Di María, the message is simple: as long as Messi continues to produce performances like those seen throughout the 2026 World Cup, there is no reason to put an artificial deadline on one of the greatest international careers football has ever seen.