Ángel Di María has hinted that retirement could come sooner than expected after Rosario Central were eliminated from the Copa Libertadores by Corinthians.
The Argentina World Cup winner was visibly disappointed on Thursday as Rosario Central suffered a 1–0 defeat against Corinthians in the second leg of their round-of-16 tie. The result brought their Libertadores campaign to an end and left Di María facing fresh questions about how much longer he intends to continue playing.
The defeat was particularly poignant because of the significance of the stadium for Di María. Twelve years earlier, he had scored a memorable extra-time goal there for Argentina against Switzerland at the 2014 World Cup. That strike sent Argentina into the quarter-finals and helped propel the team towards their first World Cup final since 1990.
After Rosario Central’s latest setback at the same venue, Di María admitted that the outcome was far removed from what he had hoped for.
“This is a difficult moment. I dreamed of something different. I wanted to keep playing, but this is football. Now I have to think about what I want to do next,” he told ESPN after the match.
Speaking to Fox Sports, the veteran winger also reflected on Rosario Central’s performance. He said the team had created opportunities to score but failed to make the most of them, while the match did not develop in the way they had intended.
“We had chances to score, but the match did not go the way we wanted it to. We fought hard, but we could not take our opportunities,” Di María said.
His comments have fuelled speculation over his future, although the 38-year-old has not announced his retirement. In fact, Di María still has a contract with Rosario Central that runs until June 2027. If he sees out the agreement, he will be 39 when it expires.
Di María returned to Rosario Central in the middle of 2025 after spending 18 years playing in Europe. His career overseas included spells at some of the continent’s biggest clubs, with his achievements ranging from domestic league and cup honours to European success and major international triumphs with Argentina.
His return to his boyhood club was also a deeply significant chapter in a career that has been closely associated with the Argentina national team. Di María played a key role in the country’s major successes in recent years, including their Copa América triumphs and their 2022 World Cup victory in Qatar.
Known affectionately as ‘Fideo’, Di María has remained an influential figure since returning to Rosario Central. He has made 43 appearances for the club during his latest spell, scoring 14 goals and providing seven assists.
Despite his age, his numbers underline the contribution he has continued to make in attack. Yet the disappointment of the Libertadores exit appears to have prompted him to reconsider what comes next.
For now, there is no confirmed retirement date. His existing contract gives him the option of continuing until 2027, but his latest remarks suggest that the decision may ultimately depend on how he feels about his ability and desire to continue competing.
For a player who has already enjoyed a career filled with defining moments, the question is no longer whether Di María has achieved enough. It is whether he believes there is still another chapter left to write.
