Argentina face Colombia in Monday’s Copa America final, with all eyes being on their respective stars, Lionel Messi and James Rodriguez.Victory for the World Cup winners will see them triumph in the competition for a record 16th time.However, it won’t be just between Messi and James since the Copa America showdown will also be Angel Di Maria’s last game in his prolific international career.I’m enjoying as if these were my last battles, but I’ll keep playing for ArgentinaDi Maria announced in November 2023 that the tournament in the United States would be his last. 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 and also netting in the 2022 FIFA World Cup final victory over France.”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 Messi 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.”Wow one of the best tribute videos made by @KitoKP about Ángel Di María’s upcoming last game for the Argentina National Team tomorrow. 🇦🇷🩵I added English subtitles, enjoy 🫶 pic.twitter.com/1pczttXbVN— All About Argentina 🛎🇦🇷 (@AlbicelesteTalk) July 13, 2024 With that last appearance, Di Maria would join Javier Zanetti on 145 caps, behind only Messi, with 186, and Javier Mascherano, with 147.”I’m not ready for my last game with the national team, but now it’s time,” an emotional Di Maria said.”A thousand things could happen [in the final], but I think that whatever happens, I can leave through the big door. I’ve done everything to be able to leave through that door.”I’ll take a lot of trophies with me, but the people, teammates and friends I’ll take with me is something you can’t buy with anything,” concluded Di Maria.COPA AMERICAFinalMonday03:00: (2.20) Argentina (2.85) Colombia (4.15)***odds are subject to change***
