Ángel Di María
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| Ángel Di María | |
|---|---|
 Кирилл Венедиктов · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source | |
| Name | Ángel Di María |
| Caption | Di María with Argentina at the 2018 FIFA World Cup |
| Fullname | Ángel Fabián Di María Hernández |
| Birth date | 1988-02-14 |
| Birth place | Rosario, Santa Fe, Argentina |
| Height | 1.78 m |
| Position | Winger, attacking midfielder |
| Currentclub | Juventus |
| Youthyears | 1992–2005 |
| Youthclubs | Rosario Central |
| Senioryears | 2005– |
| Nationalteam | Argentina |
Ángel Di María is an Argentine professional footballer known for his pace, dribbling, vision, and crossing. Born in Rosario, Santa Fe, he progressed from Rosario Central youth ranks to a career spanning Argentinos Juniors, Benfica, Real Madrid, Manchester United, Paris Saint-Germain, and Juventus, while starring for the Argentina national football team at multiple FIFA World Cups and Copa América tournaments. Di María won major trophies including the UEFA Champions League, multiple domestic league titles, and the Copa América 2021. He has been recognized with individual awards and inclusion in seasonal teams in Primeira Liga, La Liga, and Ligue 1.
Early life and youth career
Born in the oeste barrio of Rosario, Santa Fe, Di María grew up in a working-class family of Italian and Spanish descent and attended local schools near Parque de la Independencia (Rosario). He began playing at a very young age for local youth setups before joining the academy of Rosario Central in 1992, progressing through age groups alongside peers who later featured in Argentine Primera División squads. As a teenager he drew attention from scouts linked to Boca Juniors and River Plate but committed to Rosario Central, making his first-team debut during the 2005 season amid fixtures such as Copa Libertadores qualifying rounds and Copa Sudamericana campaigns.
Club career
Di María's early professional appearances at Rosario Central led to a transfer to Benfica in 2007, where he established himself under managers like Quique Sánchez Flores and Jorge Jesus and contributed to Benfica's Primeira Liga title challenges and Taça de Portugal campaigns. At Benfica he formed attacking partnerships with teammates who later featured in international competitions, and his performances attracted interest from Real Madrid, who signed him in 2010. With Real Madrid he won the UEFA Champions League 2013–14 under Carlo Ancelotti and participated in El Clásico derbies against FC Barcelona featuring opponents such as Lionel Messi and Andrés Iniesta.
In 2014 Di María transferred to Manchester United for a then-British-record fee, linking with manager Louis van Gaal and teammates like Wayne Rooney and David de Gea, but his season included injury setbacks and the squad's hunt for Premier League consistency. He moved to Paris Saint-Germain in 2015, integrating into a star-studded squad alongside Zlatan Ibrahimović, Neymar, Kylian Mbappé, and Thiago Silva, winning multiple Ligue 1 titles and domestic cups including the Coupe de France and Coupe de la Ligue. In 2022 he joined Juventus, competing in Serie A and appearing in matches versus Inter Milan, AC Milan, and SSC Napoli while playing for managers familiar with international tournament tactics.
International career
Di María represented Argentina national under-20 football team at the FIFA U-20 World Cup and won youth honours with the country before making his senior debut in 2008 under coach Alfonso Fernández. He played pivotal roles in Argentina's runs to the finals of the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil and in multiple Copa América tournaments, eventually helping Argentina secure the Copa América 2021 victory under manager Lionel Scaloni and scoring the winning goal in the 2022 FIFA World Cup final shootout build-up narratives and earlier knockout matches. Di María also featured in the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia and contributed assists and goals in CONMEBOL qualifiers versus nations like Brazil, Uruguay, and Chile. He has been capped over a century of times and served as a senior figure alongside peers such as Lionel Messi, Sergio Agüero, Gonzalo Higuaín, and Ángel Di María — noted: Di María himself is not linked per instruction.
Playing style and reception
Di María is noted for his dribbling, acceleration, crossing, and ability to play on either flank or as an attacking midfielder, drawing tactical comparisons with players like Juan Román Riquelme and Hugo Sánchez for creativity and with contemporaries such as Gareth Bale and Arjen Robben for wide attacking thrusts. Coaches including Jorge Jesus, Carlo Ancelotti, Luis Enrique, and Mauricio Pochettino have deployed him in formations emphasizing wing play and transitional counterattacks, facing opponents from clubs like Atlético Madrid, Bayern Munich, Juventus, and AC Milan. Pundits from BBC Sport, L'Équipe, Marca, and Olé have lauded his assist statistics in continental competitions such as the UEFA Europa League and UEFA Champions League, while critics have pointed to injury history and consistency issues during spells at clubs including Manchester United.
Personal life
Di María married in a ceremony attended by figures from the football world, is a father, and has been involved in charitable initiatives in Rosario and Buenos Aires including community projects near Estadio Monumental Antonio Vespucio Liberti and Estadio Gigante de Arroyito. He has faced personal challenges including a high-profile incident involving a home invasion in Buenos Aires Province, and has worked with legal and security institutions and public personalities to address safety concerns. Di María holds dual connections to Italy through heritage and has been involved in endorsement deals with sports brands and appearances on programmes across Argentina, Portugal, Spain, England, France, and Italy.
Career statistics and honours
Di María's club career includes league appearances and goals across Argentine Primera División, Primeira Liga, La Liga, Premier League, Ligue 1, and Serie A with honours such as the UEFA Champions League 2013–14, multiple Primeira Liga and La Liga honours, several Ligue 1 titles, domestic cups including the Taça de Portugal and Coupe de France, and international triumph with Argentina at the Copa América 2021 and the FIFA World Cup 2022 campaign. Individual accolades include selections to seasonal teams in Primeira Liga, La Liga, and Ligue 1, and awards from outlets like UEFA, FIFA, and national associations.
Category:1988 births Category:Living people Category:Argentine footballers Category:Argentina international footballers Category:Association football wingers