In the annals of soccer history, the names of Sergio Romero, Zabaleta, Pareja, Garay, Monzon, alongside Mascherano and Gago, as well as Messi (who replaced Lavezzi in the 90th minute), Riquelme, Di Maria (who replaced Banega in the 88th minute), and Aguero (who replaced Jesé Sousa in the 79th minute), converged on the stage of the World Cup in Brazil six years later. Romero, Zabaleta, Gare, Mascherano, Messi, Lavezzi and nine others were even honored to make their debut in the final, Aguero and Gago were substitutes, but Di Maria's absence became a major regret of his career.
Di Maria, the "Angel", was born in the midst of challenging matches and finals, and thus began his soccer career.
Similar to many South American stars, Di Maria's childhood was full of hardships. His father was a coal miner, and the bright young Di Maria would volunteer to help his father during non-training hours. Whenever he set foot on the training ground, a bicycle was his means of transportation, the only way his mother provided for him.
Since the age of five, he loved soccer," recalls his father, Miguel. Some people think soccer is the way to change your life, but Angel just loves the sport. I used to tell him that he could either choose soccer or dig coal with me."
Di Maria started his soccer career at Rosario Central, where he stood out at the 2007 World Youth Championships and joined Benfica in the summer of the same year for a transfer fee of 8 million euros. The 2008 Olympic Games then brought the soccer genius to more Chinese fans.
From the World Youth Championships to the Olympics, Di Maria excelled in all six knockout games, contributing at least four goals and two assists in each. In the Beijing Olympics, he assisted Aguero in the quarter-final extra time against the Netherlands, the semi-final, and scored a solo goal in the final. This Argentine star is an angel in the hearts of the fans.
Shortly after the Olympics, Di Maria made his debut for the national team in a world qualifier against Paraguay. After Basile stepped down, Diego Maradona took over the coaching reins of the Argentina national team, but on April 1, 2009, in the Bolivian Altiplano, Di Maria was red-carded for kicking the ball from behind, his only red card with the national team.
Argentina struggled in the World Cup, but Di Maria made a qualitative leap forward in the 2009-10 season. After scoring 5 goals and 9 assists in the previous two seasons, he contributed 10 goals and 19 assists in 45 games this season. The arrival of the World Cup in South Africa provided a stage for the Argentinean talent to showcase his talents.
