Angel Di Maria, who is set to retire from international football after the upcoming Copa America, has shared his thoughts on the best players he has ever played alongside. The Argentine midfielder, in an interview with MARCA, selected his dream team, highlighting some of the standout names that have left a lasting impression on him.
In goal, Di Maria chose Emi Martinez for his outstanding performance at the 2022 World Cup, where Argentina emerged victorious. Martinez’s crucial save against France secured a spot in the penalty shootout, contributing to their ultimate success.
Moving to the defensive line, Di Maria picked Sergio Ramos, his former teammate at Real Madrid, and Nicolas Otamendi from Argentina and Benfica duty. Surprisingly, he omitted a right-back from his selection, offering a critical perspective on players in that position.
In midfield, Di Maria opted for Javier Mascherano and Rui Costa, the latter concluding his career at Benfica when Di Maria was beginning his journey.
The attacking force comprised a formidable quartet: Lionel Messi, Neymar, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, and Kylian Mbappe, boasting an impressive combined goal tally of almost 2,200.
Notably absent from Di Maria’s dream team was Cristiano Ronaldo, as he chose other forwards like Wayne Rooney, Robin van Persie, Karim Benzema, and Danny Welbeck.
Reflecting on his choices, Di Maria expressed gratitude for the privilege of playing alongside such extraordinary talents, acknowledging the challenge of assembling an all-star team from his illustrious career.
‘I had the opportunity to play with so many and have that privilege that sometimes if they don’t ask me a question like that I don’t start thinking about who I played with and the truth is that it is crazy if I have to put myself together. I could easily put together two all-star teams,’ Di Maria said.