Ángel Di María

Early life

Di María was born on 14 February 1988 in Rosario, as one of three children of Miguel di María and Diana Hernandez, and grew up in Perdriel. As an infant, he was unusually active, and on the recommendation of a doctor was signed up for football at age three. He also helped his parents with their work at a local coal yard along with his two sisters, Vanesa and Evelyn. Due to the low income his family earned, purchasing football boots and keeping up with Di María's hobby was difficult for his parents. He considers himself to be a "family man" and has used a significant amount of his salary to "give back" to his family. After being transferred to Benfica, he asked his father not to work any more and purchased a house for his parents and sisters.

Club career

Rosario Central

At age four, Di María joined Rosario Central. As he had already committed to playing for his local club, Torito, 35 footballs were given in compensation.

Di María made his professional debut on 14 December 2005 in Rosario's final fixture of the Apertura, a 2–2 draw away to Independiente, by replacing Emiliano Vecchio. He scored for the first time on 24 November 2006 in the following season's Apertura in a 4–2 win at home over Quilmes, a minute after replacing Leonardo Borzani at half-time. After playing at the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Canada, Boca Juniors made a bid of US$6.5 million for him. He was also approached by English club Arsenal, a move that fell through due to the United Kingdom's strict rules on issuing work permits to players from outside the European Union.

Benfica

Di María was transferred to the Portuguese side Benfica in July 2007, where he played as a winger. He was signed as a replacement for Benfica's departing captain, Simão, who joined Atlético Madrid earlier that summer. Benfica paid Rosario Central €6 million for 80% of his sports rights and 50% of the sports rights of Andrés Díaz. Later, in August 2008, the Portuguese club paid an extra €2 million for the remaining 20%, but re-sold 10% to GestiFute.

Di María had his breakthrough in the 2009–10 season thanks to the trust placed in him by manager Jorge Jesus. On 22 October, in the Europa League group stage match against Everton, he provided a hat-trick of assists for the first time in his career, in a 5–0 thrashing at the Estádio da Luz, marking the biggest loss of an English side in a European competition. During that month, Di María signed a new deal with Benfica, adding three more years to his current deal, which was to last until 30 June 2015 with his release fee set at a minimum of €40 million. Afterwards, he was backed by Diego Maradona to become "Argentina's next superstar". He would score a brace in Benfica's 2–1 home win over AEK Athens, to ensure Benfica's qualification to the round of thirty-two, as group winners.

On 27 February 2010, Di María scored his first hat-trick in a classic 4–0 win against Leixões. The next day, he made the headlines as "Magic Tri María" in all sports newspapers in Portugal. He finished as the league's top assister that season with 11 assists, including two in a 5–0 win against Olhanense, as Benfica won the national championship, adding the year's domestic League Cup, while being named Player of the Month in April.

Real Madrid

On 28 June 2010, Real Madrid posted on their website that they had agreed with Benfica for the transfer of Di María. He signed a five-year contract for €25 million, plus €11 million in incentives, as announced one day later by the Portuguese Stock Exchange regulating entity. On 7 July 2010, Di María arrived to Madrid directly from Buenos Aires, and passed the medical test on 8 July. He made his debut on 4 August 2010 in a friendly match against Mexican side América, which Real Madrid won 3–2. On 22 August, Di María scored his first goal in another friendly away against Hércules, which Real Madrid won 3–1. In the last match of the pre-season, on 24 August, after an individual play described as a "magic moment", he opened the score of the 2–0 win against Peñarol for the Trofeo Santiago Bernabéu.

His league debut came on 29 August in a 0–0 draw against Mallorca. On 18 September, Di María scored his first league goal for Real Madrid in their 2–1 away win over Real Sociedad. Ten days later, he scored his first goal in the UEFA Champions League against Auxerre in a 1–0 victory. He scored a controversial first goal against Sevilla on 19 December. Days later, Di María assisted Karim Benzema's two goals and Cristiano Ronaldo's goal in an astonishing 8–0 drubbing of Levante on 22 December. In the second leg of the Champions League round of 16 against Lyon, he scored the third and final goal in a 3–0 win to send Real Madrid through to the quarter-finals for the first time in seven years.

Di María scored Real Madrid's third goal during their first-leg Champions League quarter-final victory over Tottenham Hotspur on 5 April 2011. On 20 April, he was sent off in the 31st minute of extra time in the Copa del Rey final against rival Barcelona. Real Madrid won the match 1–0, the lone goal of the match (in the 13th minute of extra time) being a header from Ronaldo, which came from his cross, thus obtaining his first honour with Real Madrid.

During the start of the 2011–12 season, Di María endured a tough series of matches as he struggled to adapt to the pace of the league following the summer break. As a result, Di María's early performance for the season was mixed with moments of genuinely good play interspersed with moments of sheer madness by the Argentine. This point was well illustrated during Real Madrid's 1–0 defeat to Levante, a match which saw a clearly out-of-sorts Di María commit a horror foul on Levante's Juanfran during the match. Di María caused the two teams to clash and an on-field incident ensued. However, Di María's performances would improve, including opening up a significant gap at the top of the assists table. From October 2011, Di María was being picked by Madrid head coach José Mourinho ahead of Kaká and Mesut Özil, a sign of his improving form.

Manchester United

On 26 August 2014, Di María signed a five-year deal with Manchester United for a transfer fee of £59.7 million, one of the most expensive transfers of all time and the highest fee ever paid by a British club at the time. He inherited the number 7 shirt at United, which was previously worn by club legends such as George Best, Bryan Robson, Eric Cantona, David Beckham and Cristiano Ronaldo. However, he said in an open letter to Real Madrid fans that he had never wanted to leave Real Madrid, but that its board had been unsupportive and unfair: "Someone may not like me".

Di María made his debut on 30 August in a 0–0 draw with Burnley, in which he was substituted for Anderson after 70 minutes. He scored his first goal for United on 14 September, netting directly from a free-kick in a 4–0 win over Queens Park Rangers. He also provided an assist for Juan Mata's goal in the same match, winning the vote for Man of the Match. His performance was highlighted by Sky Sports' Player Cam feature, which was brought back especially for the match. In the next match, against Leicester City on 21 September, he again scored a goal and provided another assist, although United lost the match 5–3.

On 2 October, Di María won Manchester United's Player of the Month award for September after recording two goals and two assists in his first four matches for the club. One week later, he won his second individual trophy at United after his goal against Leicester, in which he chipped goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel, was voted as the club's Goal of the Month for September. Di María continued his run of fine form on 5 October by scoring a goal and providing an assist for Radamel Falcao to help United defeat Everton 2–1. Di María was substituted with a hamstring injury 13 minutes into United's 3–0 defeat of Hull City on 29 November and made only one substitute appearance in the team's next seven matches.

On 4 January 2015, Di María returned from injury to score a late goal in a 2–0 win against Yeovil Town in the third round of the FA Cup. A week later, he was used as a forward by manager Louis van Gaal in a 1–0 home defeat to Southampton. This new role came in the midst of a bad run of form for Di María, who was said to have struggled since October. Di María was sent off on 9 March as United lost 2–1 at home against Arsenal in the FA Cup sixth round, being booked for diving and for grabbing the shirt of referee Michael Oliver, but earlier set up the equaliser by Wayne Rooney. At the season's end, Di María was judged by The Daily Telegraph to be the worst signing of the season.

Paris Saint-Germain

On 25 July 2015, Di María failed to board a flight to the United States to join Manchester United's pre-season tour as scheduled; manager Louis van Gaal said he "did not know why". On 2 August, it was reported Di María would undergo a medical ahead of a move to Paris Saint-Germain; and four days later, Manchester United confirmed he had been sold to the French champions for an undisclosed fee, believed to be around £44 million, signing a four-year contract.

Di María made his Ligue 1 debut on 30 August away to Monaco as a 66th-minute substitute for Lucas, and assisted Ezequiel Lavezzi for the final goal of a 3–0 win at the Stade Louis II. On 15 September, Di María scored his first goal for PSG on his Champions League debut for the club, a 2–0 win over Malmö FF at the Parc des Princes. Seven days later, he registered his first goal in Ligue 1 as PSG defeated Guingamp 3–0. On 23 April 2016, Di María scored the winning goal for PSG in the 2016 Coupe de la Ligue Final against Lille at the Stade de France. Di María ended 2015–16 setting a new Ligue 1 record for assists in a season with 18.

In the 2016–17 Champions League group stage home match against Basel on 19 October 2016, Di María scored the opening goal in the 40th minute in a 3–0 victory for PSG to register his first goal of the season. On 19 November, he opened the scoring with his first Ligue 1 goal of the season in a 2–0 home win against Nantes.

On 14 February 2017, Di María scored a brace as PSG defeated Barcelona 4–0 in the first leg of 2016–17 UEFA Champions League round of 16 at the Parc des Princes. On 1 April, he scored in PSG's 4–1 win over Monaco in the 2017 Coupe de la Ligue final. On 8 May 2018, he played as PSG won 2–0 against Les Herbiers to clinch the 2017–18 Coupe de France.

On the first leg of his side's Champions league round of 16 tie against his former club Manchester United in the 2018–19 season, Di María sustained a serious injury following a tackle from Ashley Young; however, he refused to be substituted, and in the final moments of the game, he assisted Kylian Mbappé's goal for a 2–0 win at Old Trafford. Eventually, PSG lost 3–1 in the second leg and were eliminated in the round of 16 for the third consecutive season.

In the 2019–20 Champions League group stage, Di María scored a brace in a 3–0 win over his former club Real Madrid on 18 September 2019. On 18 August 2020, Di María scored a goal and recorded two assists in PSG's 3–0 Champions League semi-final victory over RB Leipzig; the club went on to play against Bayern Munich in the final, but lost the match 1–0.

Juventus

On 8 July 2022, Di María joined Juventus as a free agent after signing an annual contract. He made his club debut on 15 August, in Juventus's opening match of the Serie A season; he scored the opening goal and later assisted Dušan Vlahović's second goal in an eventual 3–0 home win but was substituted in the second half after sustaining an injury. On 15 September, he made his 100th Champions League appearance, and his debut with Juventus in that competition, in a 2–1 home defeat against his former club Benfica. On 5 October, Di María provided a hat-trick of assists in a 3–1 home win against Maccabi Haifa in the Champions League, making the third highest assist provider in the competition's history. Despite his contributions, Juventus finished third in the group stage which put them in the Europa League knockout round play-offs, and as a result, they failed to make the Champions League knockout stages for the first time since 2013.

On 23 February 2023, he scored a hat-trick in a 3–0 away win over Nantes in the Europa League. On 9 March, he scored his fourth goal in the competition, after netting the only goal of a home win over Freiburg. He impressed during the season, despite suffering from multiple hamstring injuries, which limited his game time. On 6 June, Di María confirmed his departure from Juventus, following the expiry of his contract.

Return to Benfica

Amidst growing interest from Saudi clubs, Di María ended all speculations on 6 July 2023, when he signed a one-year contract with Benfica and was presented in front of 2,500 Benfica supporters in the entrance of Estádio da Luz.

On 9 August, Di María made his second debut at Benfica, scoring the opening goal of a 2–0 victory over Porto in the Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira, winning his first trophy back with the club. With two assists and a goal in a 4–0 win over Vitória de Guimarães on 2 September, he reached five goal contributions in his first four league games. On 29 September, he scored the only goal of a home win over Porto, in the Primeira Liga, allowing his side to stay on top of the league table. In the last Champions League group stage match on 12 December, Di María scored his first goal in the competition with Benfica, directly from a corner kick, in a 3–1 away win over Red Bull Salzburg, which proved essential for the Eagles to qualify to the UEFA Europa League knock-out round play-offs. There, he scored two penalties in a 2–1 aggregate victory over Toulouse. In the first leg of the quarter-finals against Olympique de Marseille on 11 April, he scored from open play to help his side to a 2–1 victory, but in the second leg, he missed the first kick of the penalty shootout as Benfica was knocked-out.

On 23 November 2024, the 36-year-old Di María scored a 16-minute hat-trick in the opening 18 minutes of the Portuguese Cup fourth round match against Estrela da Amadora, helping his team to a 7–0 victory. Two months later, on 11 January, he started in the 2025 Taça da Liga final against city rivals Sporting, converting his penalty in an eventual shoot-out victory. Di María scored four penalties in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, the first three against Boca Juniors and Auckland City in the group stage, while the fourth was a last-minute equaliser against Chelsea in the round of 16, which ended in a 4–1 loss in extra-time. This marked the end of his European career, after 768 official matches.

Return to Rosario Central

On 29 May 2025, it was announced by boyhood club Rosario Central that Di María would be returning on a free transfer after Benfica's participation in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup. On 12 July, he made his first appearance since returning to the club, scoring a penalty in a 1–1 draw against Godoy Cruz. On 29 June 2026, Di María extended his contract with Rosario Central until June 2027.

International career

2007–2008: Success at youth level

In 2007, Di María was picked to play for the Argentina under-20 team. He was capped for the 2007 South American U-20 Championship in Paraguay. In 2007, he was called up for the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Canada. They went on to win the tournament with Di María scoring three goals in the process.

On 28 January 2008, Di María and some of his under-20s teammates were called up for the Argentina Olympic football team for the 2008 Beijing Olympics. He scored the extra-time game-winning goal on a pass from Lionel Messi in the 105th minute of his team's 2–1 quarter-final win over the Netherlands. On 23 August, Di María scored the game-winner – a chip over the goalkeeper from the edge of the area – in the 57th minute of Argentina's 1–0 victory against Nigeria to capture their second-straight Olympic gold medal in the final game of the Olympic tournament.

2008–2010: Senior debut and early national team career

On 6 September 2008, Di María made his debut for the Argentina senior team in a match against Paraguay.

On 19 May 2010, Di María was selected by Argentinian manager Diego Maradona in the 23-man squad for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. On 24 May, Di María scored his debut international goal in a 5–0 friendly win over Canada. At the World Cup, he helped Argentina reach the quarter-finals, playing in all five of Argentina's matches and starting four of them.

Following the World Cup, on 11 August 2010 Di María scored the first-ever international goal at Dublin's new Aviva Stadium in a friendly against the Republic of Ireland as Argentina won 1–0.

Di María appeared three times during the 2011 Copa América, scoring once in a 3–0 defeat of Costa Rica in the group stage.

2011–2014: World Cup finals loss

Di María made 12 appearances during the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification campaign and was included in the Argentina national team for the tournament finals. In Argentina's round of 16 match against Switzerland, Di María scored the only goal of the game after 118 minutes, from a Lionel Messi assist. During the quarter-final match against Belgium, Di María suffered a muscle tear in the thigh and was later taken off the field. It was later announced after the match that Di María would miss the rest of the tournament due to the injury. He had previously helped to create Gonzalo Higuaín's only goal of the match, which sent Argentina into the semi-finals. Argentina finished the tournament as runners-up to Germany.

On 11 July, Di María was named on the ten-man shortlist for FIFA's Golden Ball award for the tournament's best player.

On 3 September 2014, in a friendly away against world champions Germany, Di María had a part in all four of Argentina's goals in a 4–2 victory, assisting three and scoring one.

2015–2020: Back-to-back Copa América finals losses and World Cup disappointment

On 28 May 2015, Di María was included in Argentina national team for the 2015 Copa América. On 6 June, he was selected to captain the team in the absence of Lionel Messi for a warm-up match against Bolivia, scoring twice in a 5–0 win. A week later, in their opening match of the tournament against Paraguay in La Serena, Di María won a penalty which Messi scored in a 2–2 draw. On 30 June, he scored twice and assisted a goal for Sergio Agüero, as Argentina defeated Paraguay 6–1 to reach the final. He was substituted with a hamstring injury within the first half-hour of the final against hosts Chile, which his team lost in a penalty shootout after a goalless draw.

In Argentina's opening match of the Copa América Centenario on 6 June 2016, a rematch of the previous tournament's final against defending champions Chile, Di María scored the opening goal of the match and later assisted Éver Banega's goal in a 2–1 win. Di María dedicated the goal to his grandmother, who had recently died. In his nation's second group match, against Panama on 10 June, he assisted Nicolás Otamendi's opening goal, but was later forced off due to injury. Argentina won the match 5–0. He missed the rest of the tournament due to injury as Argentina reached the Copa América final for the second consecutive time, once again losing out to Chile on penalties, following a 0–0 draw.

Di María made 18 appearances in the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification campaign. On 22 May 2018, Di María was named in 23-man squad by manager Jorge Sampaoli for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. On 30 June, he scored a long range goal against France in a 4–3 defeat which saw Argentina eliminated from the World Cup in the Round of 16.

On 21 May 2019, he was included in the Lionel Scaloni final 23-man Argentina squad for the 2019 Copa América.

2021–2024: Copa América, Finalissima, World Cup triumphs and retirement

In June 2021, Di María was included in the Argentina national team for the 2021 Copa América in Brazil. On 21 June, he assisted the only goal of the match, scored by Papu Gómez, in Argentina's third group match against Paraguay; the result allowed his side to progress to the quarter-finals. In the final of the tournament against the hosts Brazil on 10 July, he scored the only goal of the match to give Argentina their joint record 15th Copa América title with Uruguay and their first international title since 1993. He ran onto a long pass from Rodrigo De Paul into the Brazilian penalty area. The pass was slightly deflected by Brazilian defender Renan Lodi before Di María controlled the ball with the outside of his left foot; he then chipped the ball over the goalkeeper Ederson, giving Argentina an early lead. Although he was substituted late in the second half of the match, the goal would hold as the winning effort for Argentina.

On 1 June 2022, Di María scored Argentina's second goal in a 3–0 win over the reigning European champions, Italy, at Wembley Stadium in the 2022 Finalissima.

On 11 November 2022, Di María was named in the final squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. On 26 November, he recorded an assist on Messi's opening goal in Argentina's second group match, a 2–0 win over Mexico. On 18 December, Di María scored his team's second goal against France in the final, minutes after winning the penalty for the first goal as Argentina defeated France 4–2 on penalties, after the match ended 3–3 in extra-time, to win the World Cup. He was surprised by the coach's decision to start him on the left and thought Scaloni was "confused", but Scaloni convinced Di María how he wanted to game plan with him specifically on the left.

In October 2023, Di María announced that he would be retiring from the national team after the 2024 Copa América. In Argentina's final group match against Peru, he set-up Lautaro Martínez's first goal in a 2–0 win which saw Argentina advance to the quarter-finals after topping their group. In the final against Colombia, he wore the captain's armband after Messi went down with an injury in the 65th minute. He played 117 minutes before being taken off for Otamendi. Argentina won the match 1–0, marking their second consecutive Copa America triumph and third consecutive international tournament trophy. He was named as the man of the match for the final. It was Di María's final game for Argentina, ending his international career as a champion.

Style of play

Di María has been describes by several publications and football figures as one of the best wingers and creative players of his generation, and as one of Argentina's notable players. He is predominantly left-footed and has played on either flank, as an attacking midfielder and occasionally, in central midfielder, including under Carlo Ancelotti at Real Madrid. Assessments of his playing style have highlighted his dribbling, ball control, pace, movement, stamina, passing, crossing, vision and set-piece delivery.

During his time at Real Madrid, Mourinho frequently deployed Di María on the right wing despite his preference for the left, while Di María himself noted that the role allowed him to cut inside and shoot while still rotating positions with Ronaldo. Ancelotti reinvented Di María as a central midfielder during Real Madrid's 2013–14 campaign, a tactical adjustment that proved instrumental in the club winning the Champions League. His stamina, versatility and work rate in the role were widely praised, with Ancelotti highlighting his ability to transform matches through his intensity. Despite his ability, however, Di María has often struggled with injuries throughout his career.

Managers, teammates and opponents have praised Di María's technical ability and intelligence. Ahead of the 2025 Club World Cup, Chelsea defender Levi Colwill described his technical ability as "crazy", while Benfica manager Bruno Lage highlighted his creativity, quality in transition and enduring influence despite his age. Former Real Madrid teammate Iker Casillas similarly praised Di María's versatility, intelligence and ability to decide matches on his own. Di María has also drawn praise in the media over his decisive performances in important matches throughout his career. He was named Man of the Match in the 2014 Champions League final after being focal in Real Madrid's comeback against Atlético Madrid, scored the winning goal in the 2021 Copa América final, and scored again in the 2022 World Cup final as Argentina became world champions. His performances in important matches have been widely credited as central to many of the biggest successes of both his clubs and the Argentina national team.

Personal life

Di María is nicknamed "Fideo", which means "noodle" in Spanish, due to his slender frame. Due to his Italian ancestry, he obtained an Italian passport. He is Roman Catholic.

He married fellow Argentine Jorgelina (née Cardoso) in 2011. Together they have two daughters, Mia and Pia. Mia was born three months premature and survived after treatment at an intensive care unit at the Hospital Universitario Montepríncipe in Madrid.

Di María's home in Prestbury, Cheshire, was the scene of an attempted burglary on 31 January 2015.

On 2 September 2020, it was reported that Di María, along with PSG teammates Neymar and Leandro Paredes, had tested positive for COVID-19. The French sports newspaper L'Équipe said that the three players reportedly went on vacation in Ibiza. As a result, they had to quarantine for one week, and the rest of the players and working staff were scheduled to take a coronavirus test within the same week.

During a match between PSG and Nantes on 14 March 2021, Di María's home was robbed and his family was held hostage. He had been substituted off the pitch by manager Mauricio Pochettino, who informed Di María of the situation. PSG teammate Marquinhos' parents' home was also burgled in a similar way.

Pandora Papers

Di María is one of the 13 sports personalities named in the Pandora Papers published by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ). He used a company in Panama to exploit his image rights for months before arriving at Real Madrid. He is the owner of a company in Panama created especially to manage his million-dollar contracts for the exploitation of his image rights, a shell company that he used since 2009 and that he maintains to this day. The Pandora Papers reveal that he handled more than €8 million between 2013 and 2017 through a company named Sunpex Corporation Inc.

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 13 September 2026

International

Scores and results list Argentina's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Di María goal.

Honours

Benfica

Primeira Liga: 2009–10

Taça da Liga: 2008–09, 2009–10, 2024–25

Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira: 2023

Real Madrid

La Liga: 2011–12

Copa del Rey: 2010–11, 2013–14

Supercopa de España: 2012

UEFA Champions League: 2013–14

UEFA Super Cup: 2014

Paris Saint-Germain

Ligue 1: 2015–16, 2017–18, 2018–19, 2019–20, 2021–22

Coupe de France: 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2019–20, 2020–21; runner-up: 2018–19

Coupe de la Ligue: 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2019–20

Trophée des Champions: 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020

UEFA Champions League runner-up: 2019–20

Rosario Central

Primera División: 2025 Liga

Argentina U20

FIFA U-20 World Cup: 2007

Argentina Olympic

Olympic Games: 2008

Argentina