'I'm still taking meds', says Di Maria after Argentina heartbreaks

Angel Di Maria said he continues to take medication to cope with the disappointment and pressure of losing three straight finals with Argentina. 

Across a three-year span, Di Maria lost two Copa America finals along with the 2014 World Cup when Argentina were beaten 1-0 by Germany in Brazil. 

The 37-year-old did, however, play a huge role in Argentina's recent successes on the international stage. 

He scored the only goal against Brazil in the final of the Copa America in 2021, while also netting the opener in the showpiece match at the Qatar World Cup three years ago.

Only Javier Mascherano (147) and Lionel Messi (191) made more appearances for Argentina than Di Maria (141), before he retired from international football last summer. 

Di Maria also scored 31 goals for his country, placing him third on the all-time list, behind Sergio Aguero (41) and Messi (112). 

But despite winning everything there is to win at international level, including the Finalissima in 2022, he said his past failures are still cemented in his memory. 

"Because of that I'm still taking the meds," Di Maria told Infobae as reported in ESPN.

"I was able to reduce it [dosage]. I'm much better, but that's something a little addictive, too. These are things that stay with you, that mark you."

Di Maria also expressed his guilt for some of his team-mates who failed to experience the glory that he did. 

"Who remembers the boys that reached that World Cup final and didn't win?" he said. "Very few, it seems unfair to me. Who is talking about those kids? Nobody," he added. 

"Very few can tell you how they played.

"I said it a lot of times when we became world champions, when we won the Copa America, I always said that those trophies were also [thanks] to the previous generation."

Despite calling time on his international career, Di Maria, who now turns out for Benfica, said he hopes to return to the national team in some capacity once he retires all together.

"I was there for 16 years [with the national team] and it is as if I had been in a club," Di Maria said. "It's difficult, but I think I made the right decision.

"It's obvious that it tempts me because it's the national team. I achieved everything I wanted. I left the way I wanted to. I hope one day I can be there again, in a different role."