“It was written, it was this way,” those were the first words Angel Di Maria could utter after Argentina’s record-16th Copa title at Hard Rock Stadium, Miami on Monday early morning (Indian time). 

The wing-forward, who became the captain of the Albiceleste after Messi left the pitch in the 36th minute following an ankle injury, played his last match with the national team and said goodbye just as he dreamed.

“I told the boys at dinner. I dreamed it, it was the last Copa America and it was over. I dreamed that we reached the final, that we won it and I retired like this,” he said from the field of play at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami just after the match. “I have so many beautiful feelings,” he revealed.

The Benfica striker, who played the 90 minutes and almost the entire extra time, thanked his teammates. He did not forget the previous generation with which he reached the final of the 2014 World Cup and the 2015 and 2016 editions of the Copa America. 

"I am eternally grateful to this generation. It gave me everything. It made me achieve what I was looking for and today I leave this way,” added Di Maria.

He continued, "It seems easy but it is very difficult. I know because I lived on the other side. I have been fighting for the last 10-11 years I told the guys from the previous generation that I would have liked to win one with them.”

A star of the three previous finals (World Cup and two Copa Americas) where he scored a goal in each final, Di Maria established himself as one of the national team's greatest idols. In addition, he was crowned champion at the 2008 Olympic Games, also with a goal in the final against Nigeria.

Before the match, Fideo also had an emotional surprise when his daughters Mia and Pia came out onto the field with the match ball and handed it to referee Raphael Claus. They both immediately turned around and ran into their father's arms, who was moved to tears.