Angel Di Maria reaches milestone of 1,000 professional career matches

Angel Di Maria has officially reached a significant milestone in his football career by playing his 1,000th professional match. The historic fixture took place on August 13 during the first leg of the Copa Libertadores round of 16. The player, who is 38 years old, currently plays in Argentine domestic football for Rosario Central, the club where he spent his childhood.

Reflecting his long and journeyed career, Di Maria's professional path began in Argentina on December 14, 2005, when he made his debut in the Argentine top-flight league representing Rosario Central. Following his early development in his home country, Di Maria expanded his career into European football, where he notably played for several prominent clubs including Benfica, Real Madrid, Manchester United, Paris Saint-Germain, and Juventus.

Throughout his extensive career across various clubs and international stages, Di Maria has accumulated impressive statistical records. In total, he has scored 243 goals and provided 284 assists, while receiving 10 red cards over the course of his matches. Presently, his total professional match count stands at 1,002 games played.

On the international front, Di Maria has made 145 appearances playing for the Argentina national team. During a particularly successful period between 2021 and 2024, he achieved major international triumphs with Argentina, winning the Copa América twice alongside securing victories in the World Cup and the Finalissima under the guidance of figures like Lionel Scaloni.

When compared to other prominent Argentine players in football history, Di Maria's appearance record places him among an elite group. Lionel Messi has played 1,168 matches exclusively at the top level, according to data from El Gráfico which notes 1,170 matches. Additionally, Javier Zanetti played 1,081 matches at the top level according to RSSSF, while El Gráfico records Zanetti's total at 1,099 matches.