Why is Ángel Di María not playing for Argentina against Paraguay in the World Cup qualifiers?
Most of the pre-match talk ahead of Argentina’s World Cup qualifying double header has surrounded the fitness of Inter Miami star Lionel Messi. The seven-time Ballon d’Or aggravated an old scar tissue injury in the September international break but made his MLS return for The Herons on Saturday. “Will he start?” is now the question on everybody’s lips, although one man who definitely won’t is former Real Madrid star Ángel Di María. The 35-year-old has won the overwhelming majority of his 134 Argentina caps alongside Messi, eight months his senior. The duo have teamed up to lead La Albicelesete to an Olympic Gold medal in 2008, the 2021 Copa América, the 2022 Finalissima and, of course, the 2022 World Cup. They will not, however, be joining forces once more as the world champions continue their FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifying campaign at home to Paraguay on Thursday. When you realize that the 𝑴𝒖𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒄𝒉𝒐𝒔 are playing Football today 😄#ArgentinaNT pic.twitter.com/2QOvI8z9YU ...