No Messi, no problem as tearful Di Maria inspires Argentina at Copa America
Grieving PSG star scores one and sets up another in 2-1 win over holders Chile
A grieving Angel Di Maria was the inspiration as Argentina shrugged off the absence of Lionel Messi to defeat holders Chile 2-1 in their opening Copa America game.
Paris Saint-Germain star Di Maria – reeling from the death of his grandmother only hours earlier – scored one goal and set up another as the two-time world champions avenged their defeat to Chile in last year’s Copa America final.
Di Maria opened the scoring on 51 minutes and emotionally held a T-shirt up to the sky emblazoned with the message: “Grandma, I will miss you so much.”
Moments later Di Maria then set up Argentina’s second for Ever Banega, to complete a man-of-the-match performance.
“I had to play, I wanted to play, my grandmother was so proud that I played for the national team,” Di Maria said during a post-match television interview before breaking down in tears.