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Argentina captain Lionel Messi hopes forward Angel Di Maria ends his international career with a goal in Sunday's Copa America final against Colombia.
Di Maria, 36, announced in November his plans to retire from internationals after representing his country for 15 years and Messi wants him to get his name on the scoresheet as he did against Brazil to clinch the continental title in 2021 and against France as they won the 2022 World Cup final.
"Who knows, maybe he'll score another goal in the final like he did in all the previous ones he's played in. It would be extraordinary," Messi said in an interview with Direct TV Sports on Saturday, adding that the team still hopes he will reverse his decision.
"We always tell him that if everything goes well, we have playoff games coming up. Nevertheless, 'Fideo' (Di Maria) has made up his mind and there's nothing that can change it."
Di Maria has scored 31 goals in 144 appearances for Argentina, having played in six Copa Americas and four World Cups.
He also struck the winner in Argentina's 1-0 victory over Nigeria to win Olympic gold at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Meanwhile, Colombian fans were planning victory celebrations in advance of Sunday's Copa America final while Argentines hoped Lionel Messi and their other heroes could pull off another triumph before some of them end their international careers.
Forward Angel Di Maria, 36, has already said the Copa will be his last tournament for defending champions Argentina, while captain Lionel Messi, 37, and defender Nicolas Otamendi, 36, are also nearing the end of stellar international careers.
"If Di Maria retires from soccer tomorrow, we've honored him and all the goals he scored," said Buenos Aires restaurant owner Christian Franco, who is serving special beef schnitzels ahead of the game depicting the faces of Di Maria and others.
Messi's face adorns the "Mila-Messi" dish: a play on the word "milanesa", which is a popular breaded meat offering.
Victory over Colombia in Florida would represent Argentina's third consecutive international title with Messi at the helm, after the 2022 World Cup and 2021 Copa America.
But with more than 1,000 games under his belt in a glittering career, Messi is suffering with muscle injuries, is not in Argentina's squad for the Paris Olympics and has said he is no longer at an age where he can play all the time.
Try telling fans that though.
"Messi hasn't retired yet, the World Cup is next!" insisted Guillermo Farfan, 21, in Buenos Aires, hoping he would lift the Copa on Sunday and then go again in 2026.
COLOMBIAN CONFIDENCE
Though Argentina are ranked first in the world, with Colombia 11 places lower, their opponents are on a roll: they beat heavyweights Uruguay en route to the final and are on a remarkable unbeaten run of 28 games.
"Colombia couldn't have done better in this Copa America," said 45-year-old Andrea Archila, already planning her post-match street celebrations in Bogota on Sunday. "We are going to win."
President Gustavo Petro has declared in advance that government offices will close on Monday if, as fans believe, Colombia win their first major trophy since 2001.