'The little guy is phenomenal' - Angel Di Maria admits playing with Lionel Messi for Argentina & PSG was 'the best thing that happened in my career'

Di Maria and Messi have fought and won many battles on the pitch and were on target in the final of Qatar 2022 to inspire the Albiceleste to their third global crown. The duo also bagged the Copa America 2024 title before the former Real Madrid star decided to hang up his boots from international football, leaving behind a legacy spanning 145 caps.

Di Maria also shared the dressing room with Messi at Parc des Princes in 2021-22 and savoured Ligue 1 and Coupe de France glory in the same campaign. Despite their brief stint together in Paris, Di María views it as one of the most cherished periods of his career, highlighting the impact Messi had both on and off the field.

Speaking onDSports Radio, Di María recalled his years alongside Messi and said: "Playing with Messi was the best thing that happened to me in my career. It's the best thing, and after so many years, to create a friendship... the little guy is phenomenal on and off the pitch. I had that chance and I told him after my last game at PSG, 'thank you for letting me live all this with you'. When he left Barcelona, Lean (Paredes) and I told him to come and play with us. It never happened that I would go to Barcelona, but all I wanted was to live it with him. Having him every day during that year was something different. It was the icing on the cake for me."

While Di María has retired from international football, Messi remains an active and vital part of the Argentina squad. The 36-year-old forward has continued his remarkable career at Inter Miami and is widely expected to lead Argentina at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, aiming to add another piece of silverware to his glittering trophy cabinet.