Angel Di Maria, after a successful 18-year European career, returned to Rosario Central, her training club in Argentina, to play a game. The event aroused tremendous emotion, with 48,000 fans gathering at the Gigante Stadium in Arroyito to warmly welcome the player. Di Maria, who also wore the colours of Real Madrid, PSG and Benfica, made the choice to finish his career where it all started, which was particularly touching for him and his supporters. The reception received before the match was a real emotional boost for World Champion 2022.

Di Maria’s return was marked by a strong moment: he scored a penalty goal in the 77th minute, potentially giving his team victory. However, the end of the meeting took a dramatic turn. At the 86th minute, he was the victim of a muscular intervention by Vicente Poggi, middle ground of Godoy Cruz, who forced him to leave the ground on stretcher, in tears. Although Rosario Central’s coach minimized the severity of the injury, leaving the player was a disappointment for the team.

Unfortunately, this difficult match ending got worse with Godoy Cruz’s equalization at the end of the game, preventing Rosario Central from celebrating a successful return for Di Maria. Despite the warm welcome and its goal, the match ended on a bitter note, highlighting the fragility of football and the sadness inherent in the injuries that can occur even during a long-awaited return. This return, initially full of hope and emotion, ended in disappointment.