Ángel Di María: The dark horse of big matches
It was as if the pain of not playing in the 2014 World Cup final was finally healed in the final of the Qatar World Cup. Yet, even this time, there were doubts about his participation.
In the 2014 World Cup final, he couldn't play due to injury. Many still regret that if he had been on the field that day, perhaps Argentina and Lionel Messi wouldn't have had to wait so long. But let's leave behind those 'what ifs' and debates. Ángel Di María once again proved that he is a player for the big occasions.
After Argentina's loss in their first match of the Qatar World Cup against Saudi Arabia, they needed a moment that could keep their World Cup dreams alive. Lionel Messi provided that moment with a goal against Mexico, and it was Di María who delivered the pass to him.
Though Di María didn't boast much about the assist, in his own words, he merely passed the ball to Messi. But this is the role Di María has been playing with Messi since 2005, and in the Qatar World Cup, this journey reached its peak.
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It was as if the pain of not playing in the 2014 World Cup final was finally healed in the final of the Qatar World Cup. Yet, even this time, there were doubts about his participation. Due to an injury sustained in the group stage's last match, Di María couldn't play in the Round of 16 against Australia. He was substituted in briefly in the quarterfinal against the Netherlands. And in the semifinals, Lionel Scaloni didn't take the risk of fielding him, knowing that the real Di María would be needed for the final. Di María, who always lights up like dynamite in big matches, never disappoints his team.
And Di María didn't disappoint this time either. In the 20th minute of the match, Argentina earned a penalty thanks to his sharp, zigzagging run, which left Dembélé with no choice but to foul him. Messi converted the penalty with ease, giving Argentina the lead. In the 36th minute, Argentina scored a stunning counter-attacking goal, with Di María providing the finishing touch. After scoring, he couldn't hold back his tears—and why should he? This was his moment.
What Di María did to France's defense afterwards could only be described as child's play. Watching him run, it was hard to believe he was no longer the 24-year-old young man but a 35-year-old veteran. His full fitness hadn't quite returned, as was evident when Scaloni substituted him in the 60th minute. What followed were a series of dramatic twists in the match, but ultimately, the Albicelestes emerged victorious.
It was the same Di María who had scored the only goal in the 2021 Copa América final, which later became the match-winning goal against Brazil. That goal ended Argentina's 28-year drought of not winning an international trophy.
Then, against European champions Italy in the 'Finalissima' at Wembley Stadium, Di María scored the opening goal for Argentina. The Albicelestes won that match 3-0. Di María also had a significant role in Argentina's gold medal win in football at the 2008 Olympics, scoring in the final. Messi was alongside him back then as well. Together, they also won the 2005 Youth World Cup. If Messi is Pablo Picasso, then Di María is the color on his brush.
Not only on the international stage, but Di María has also been the best performer for his club in numerous big matches. He was named Man of the Match in the 2014 Champions League final, playing a pivotal role in ending Real Madrid's 12-year wait for their tenth Champions League trophy.
It seems Di María was born to lift the burden of his teams' long waits. Otherwise, why would it fall upon him to end Argentina's 28-year trophy drought, their 36-year World Cup drought, and Real Madrid's 12-year wait?
Di María's own wait has finally ended as well. The pain he carried in his heart for the past eight years was finally buried in the desert sands of Qatar, by this unsung hero of Argentina's success.
