Not a farewell

The emotion at the Monumental after Lionel Messi’s last Argentina match on home soil in World Cup qualifying left many with the feeling they had witnessed a historic farewell. However, his close friend Ángel Di María downplayed that interpretation. “Leo hasn’t retired yet. It was his last qualifier at home, but he still has a World Cup ahead of him and will surely play more games,” said “El Fideo” in an interview with ESPN.

Di María’s absence in the stands raised eyebrows, but the Rosario-born star explained his decision: “For me it wasn’t a farewell. That’s why I didn’t go. I spoke with him and I’m happy he still has another tournament to play.”

A friend’s perspective

Few know Messi’s Argentina career as well as Di María. They shared the dressing room for over a decade, lifting the Copa América, the Finalissima, and the 2022 World Cup together. That’s why his words carry weight. The former national team star, who retired after the 2024 Copa América, has no doubt Messi will continue to lead.

“These guys are ready to carry on by themselves, but Leo still has a lot to give. I don’t see it as a goodbye. On the contrary, I believe he will be there for the 2026 World Cup,” he insisted.

Road to 2026

Although Messi himself admitted after the Venezuela match that he cannot guarantee his presence at the next World Cup, Di María’s words suggest the opposite. For him, Argentina’s captain has not closed his cycle and will be a key figure on the road to the tournament in the United States, Mexico, and Canada.

In any case, what happened at the Monumental will go down as a unique moment: Messi moved to tears, scoring twice, and receiving the eternal love of his people. But as Di María put it, more than a farewell, it was just another page in the story of a player still writing golden chapters.