GUARDIAN ANGEL: AN ALBICELESTIAL INTERMEDIARY

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As Miami met with midnight, Argentina rejoiced in a divine curtain call.

“All of us, according to the tradition of the church...have an angel with us.”

These are the words of Jorge Bergoglio, Bishop of Rome. Born in Buenos Aires, Pope Francis is the first Argentinian to hold the position of head of the Catholic Church. Tallying up the 46 million people in his homeland, around four-fifths are nominally of shared faith. Without appearing to blaspheme, there’s a proposal to be made that another spiritual force bonds the populous more tightly. Seleccion de futbol de Argentina.

While Pope Francis’ leadership plays a significant role in how Christianity is perceived globally, there’s one figure that you could comparatively reason assumes a similar influence in football. He’s called Lionel Messi. 45 titles, 8 Ballon d’Ors and over 1,000 direct goal contributions, his legacy as the greatest player to ever live is, at this point, virtually set in stone. However, this story is not about him—don’t worry though, he’ll make a guest appearance or two—as our narrative centres around a fellow citizen of Rosario, one born a mere 8 months later.

Angel Di Maria.

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As a child, Angel Di Maria did not simply wake up and go to school with his sisters. Come rain or shine, the youngster began his days underneath a tin roof, bagging charcoal with his father, Miguel. This was the reality of his early life in Rosario, doing what he could to help his family make ends meet. Hyperactive in his youth, Angel never stopped running. It would turn into a theme of his life, entwined with the fallout of his mother’s next decision. One day, she took him to the doctor, looking for a solution that would curb his incessant energy.

The suggestion? Football.

It would turn out that Di Maria was pretty good. Aged 7, he scored 64 goals for his neighbourhood team. It wasn’t long until the call arrived from Rosario Central’s youth scouts, requesting he join their ranks. As a man who worked all day, combined with his fandom of rival club Newell’s Old Boys, Angel’s father was hesitant. Fortunately, his mother was not. A Central supporter herself, the opportunity to see her child represent the club she loved would not be missed. The darkness and cold did not matter, no roadblock would. Cycling nine kilometres across the city for every training session, Diana made sure her son would play.

Nicknamed Fideo—translating from Spanish as ‘noodle’—, Di Maria’s wiry frame saw him atomise through defence after defence. Rising up the ranks, Angel made his debut in the Primera Division aged 17. After a few years with his hometown Central, the life of familia Di Maria would change forever. An offer came in from Portguese giants Benfica. €6,000,000 proved a sum that La Canalla could not refuse.

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It would be fair to say that Angel’s beginnings in European football weren’t exactly easy. A bit part player for his first few seasons, he needed a stage to shine. It was convenient then, that the ‘08 Olympics of Beijing had arrived at an opportune time. Argentina were, without doubt, one of the favourites to claim the gold medal. It was a squad captained by the genius enganche Juan Roman Riquelme, alongside the burgeoning talents of Sergio Aguero and Lionel Messi. However, unlike the two wonderkids mentioned, the newly selected Angel was uncapped at senior level.

It was smooth sailing through the group phase, with maximum points earned. The quarter-final saw Fideo score his first international goal, and it was a big one too. A perfectly weighted pass from Messi sent Di Maria clear in extra time, and the winger kept his cool to slot past Kenneth Vermeer in the Dutch net. The semi-final match against Ronaldinho’s Brazil was billed as a close contest, but Argentina advanced after throttling their bitter rivals 3-0.

The final saw La Albiceleste face Nigeria, winners of the Atlanta ‘96 edition. It was a tight game at the Bird’s Nest, with a solitary goal giving us our champions. Once again, a perfectly weighted pass from Messi sent Di Maria clear, and the winger kept his cool to dink the ball over Ambruse Vanzekin in the Nigerian net. It was almost as if, these two knew how to play together. With the occasion firmly grasped, many would keep an eye on Angel’s mesmeric ascent, including the biggest of them all. His next destination? Santiago Bernabeu.

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In mid-July 2014, Di Maria receives a letter. Handed to him by Argentina’s team doctor, it has arrived from Fideo’s then employer, Real Madrid. The message is clear. Angel has been ordered not to participate in the World Cup final. Playing through a torn thigh muscle, there is a fear that any further damage could become permanent and be of severe detriment to his career.

However, it wasn’t as if Los Blancos particularly cared about the performance level of Argentina’s winger anymore. Having lined up the signing of tournament golden boy James Rodriguez, Angel was surplus to requirements in Spain’s capital. This was the guy who had won man of the match in the Champions League final a scant two months prior, helping Los Merengues seal a long-coveted decima. Yet, the old adage was to ring true. There is no room for sentiment in football. Real Madrid wanted him gone in the upcoming transfer window, and needed their asset to be in medically qualifiable shape.

Di Maria didn’t care, tearing the letter to pieces. In his mind, he would take to the Maracana pitch no matter what.

Argentina’s coach, the late Alejandro Sabella, had other ideas. Deep down, he knew that Real Madrid were right. Angel was in no condition to play. Even in a game of this magnitude, he wasn’t close to being ready. Argentina went with Enzo Perez, and Di Maria settled for a place on the bench. He waited…and waited. The call never came. Neither did the World Cup. Passing like ships in the night, the game’s greatest prize went to Germany, and Di Maria travelled home accompanied by a torturous what if.

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The pain would continue on. Back to back Copa America saw defeats delivered by neighbours Chile. Di Maria’s wonder-strike only delayed a World Cup exit against the teenage sensation of Kylian Mbappe. It looked as if Angel and La Albiceleste were destined to be bridesmaids forever. The Covid pandemic would rob them of an opportunity to host their continental competition, so to Brazil it was. Behind closed doors, Argentina found their way back to the Maracana. This time, Fideo would play. This time…there would be no what if.

It was to be the hosts they faced. In a moment not too dissimilar to the Olympic final against Nigeria over a decade prior, a perfectly weighted pass sent Di Maria clear. The winger kept his cool to dink the ball over Ederson in the Brazilian net. Titanic defending followed, bodies flying all over the shop for the remainder. By hook or by crook, Neymar Jr’s jinking runs were negated and Selecao failed in their pursuit of an equaliser. The ghost of Copa America past had been slain. Argentina secured their first major international title since 1993.

La Finalissima against European champion Azzurri followed. Inside a packed Wembley Stadium, Argentina swaggered around the hallowed turf as if they owned it. At the home of football, it was only right to reload it once again. A perfectly weighted pass sent Di Maria clear, and the winger kept his cool to dink the ball over Donnarumma in the Italian net. Angel was getting good at this. Party time started early in the stands, and the demolition job ended 3-0 on the pitch. Argentina had fast become the team everybody had to beat.

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At 34, Fideo knew that this would be his final chance to achieve the greastest prize. Yet, one couldn’t help feeling that this morning was reminiscent of another. Suffering from muscle overload, Di Maria was rarely involved in Qatar. Unused against Australia and Croatia, the only knockout tie Angel featured in saw a fleeting cameo against The Netherlands. Lionel Scaloni, coach of Argentina, had a history altering decision to make. Maybe his impact in the previous two finals had swayed his manager’s mind. Angel’s value was undeniable, and the injury currently carried was not as debilitating as two cycles prior. Di Maria would start.

Flying out of the traps, Argentina’s wing wizard played like a man with nothing to lose. Dropping the shoulder and gliding into the box, Ousmane Dembele was unable to keep pace. Penalty. Messi kept his cool from the spot. 1-0. La Albiceleste were in complete control and France had no answer. A goal of exquisite execution was to follow. Leo Messi’s deft touch found Julian Alvarez, the next one sent Alexis Mac Allister free. With Les Bleus backline at sixes and sevens, a drilled cross arrived at the feet of an oncoming runner.

You know who.

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Placing his fingers together, Di Maria formed his classic heart celebration, racing towards an adoringly frenzied Albiceleste support. At that moment in time, the man born February 14th could’ve quite possibly been confused for Saint Valentine himself. Accelerating his veneration to a level not seen by mortal men since 1986, this Angel appeared to be under service of the supreme deity. Whether it was those blessed enough to find themselves inside Lusail Stadium that December night, or the tens of millions watching back at home in a blistering summer heat, their dream was starting to form into reality. Once again, Argentina had their Angel with them.

Anybody who knows…knows. The Qatar ‘22 World Cup final was by no means finished. After Fideo was subsituted in minute 64, the French sprung into life. Mbappe. Mbappe again. Extra time. Messi. Guess what? Mbappe again. Emi ‘Dibu’ Martinez with the most clutch save ever seen. Deadlocked at 3-3, penalties were to decide our victor.

Di Maria watched on with tears in his eyes, relegated to a helpless spectator. Without his presence on the pitch, this game had unfolded into one of the most nerve jangling back-and-forths ever played. Ten minutes later, we had our result. Those tears continued to fall, but unlike 2014, these were ones of joy. France missed twice. Argentina? Not once. When Gonzalo Montiel sent Hugo Lloris the wrong way, it was over. Angel Di Maria and La Abiceleste had vanquished the ghosts of eight years prior, while simultaneously bringing an end to eight tournaments of torment on the global stage.

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It was time. A day that must arrive for all footballers, no matter how much they try and run from it. A final soiree, the last dance. Sunday, July 14th marked the date that Angel Di Maria would represent his nation for the last time. After 145 caps, the concluding mission was clear. Argentina travelled to Miami, to face a revitalised and threatening Colombia side. Unbeaten in 28 games, Los Cafeteros were to be no pushover. The man who replaced Di Maria at Real Madrid all those years back, James Rodriguez, was nailed on for player of the tournament, with the likes of Richard Rios and Luis Diaz also demanding close attention.

Regaining composure after his daughters, Mia and Pia, brought the game ball out onto the pitch, Di Maria and Argentina found themselves in a testing battle. Overshadowed by ground entry issues and an ankle injury that forced Messi to exit early in the second half, this match trudged to extra time in the Florida heat. Even so, Argentina were a team that knew how to win by now. While Colombia did their best to cling on, experience paid dividends. Inter Milan goal machine and tournament top scorer, Lautaro Martinez, found the breakthrough. It would prove to be the difference maker.

While Di Maria didn’t exactly have the best game of his career, he’d done enough. Substituted in the closing minutes, eyes began to well. It’s hard to exalt 16 years of service in a single moment, but the Argentine contingent inside the Hard Rock Stadium tried their very best. The rapturous applause would not abate for some time. With a record breaking 16th Copa America, Argentina went one clear of their oldest rivals in Uruguay. ¿Fiesta en Miami? I can think of worse places.

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And so, it’s wise that we retire here, with Papa Francisco’s wisdom echoing:

“The angel is a daily gateway to transcendence.”

After the career Di Maria’s had with Argentina, it’d be fair to say their Angel has lived up to his name.