Why isn’t Ángel Di María playing for Argentina against Chile in the 2026 World Cup qualifier?

Argentina return to 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification on Thursday (5 September), when they take on Chile at Estadio Más Monumental in Buenos Aires. But the world champions will be missing two staples of their team for the best part of two decades: Lionel Messi and Ángel Di María.

Why isn’t Leo Messi playing for Argentina against Chile?

Inter Miami star Messi is, of course, still dealing with the ankle ligament injury he suffered in the 2024 Copa América final against Colombia in mid-July. He should return to action for Inter Miami fairly soon but isn’t ready for the September qualifiers.

Following Argentina’s triumph at the tournament in the United States in the summer, Di María stuck to his plans to retire from international duty, which he had previously announced last October.

The 36-year-old, who is expected to feature for Benfica in the Champions League this season, made his full debut for La Albiceleste against Paraguay in September 2008, aged 20, three years after Messi’s first appearance.

Together, the duo won gold medals at the Olympic Games in Beijing in 2008 but had to wait until later in their careers to taste more international success.

Argentina disappointment followed by huge success for Di María

After losing the 2014 World Cup final and Copa América finals in 2015 and 2016, Argentina won the latter tournament for the first time since 1993 in 2021, which kicked off a period of huge success.

Di María and Messi (twice) both scored in the 2022 World Cup final, which the South Americans won against France in a penalty shootout, and played key roles in helping their country defend their Copa América title in the summer just past.

Di María ended his international career having played 145 times for Argentina, scoring 31 goals. Only Messi and Javier Mascherano have picked up more caps for the three-time World Cup winners.