Di Maria picks dream XI he has ever played with, snubs Ronaldo

However, the Argentine maestro showed no mercy when it came to Cristiano Ronaldo, leaving the football icon out of his lineup. 

As Di Maria nears the end of his international career, he reflected on his football journey, highlighting some of the most formidable talents he's had the privilege to play alongside.

Daily Mail reported that Di Maria opted for Emi Martinez in goal, citing his heroic exploits at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where Argentina emerged victorious.

At centre-back, he chose Sergio Ramos and Nicolas Otamendi, both former teammates from Real Madrid and the Argentine national team. Interestingly, Di Maria decided against picking a right-back, leaving a gap in his lineup.

Moving to the midfield, Di Maria selected Javier Mascherano and Rui Costa, two players he admires for their contributions to the game. His choice for the left-back position was the 'incredible' Marcelo from Real Madrid.

In the attacking department, Di Maria assembled a formidable quartet comprising Lionel Messi, Neymar, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, and Kylian Mbappe. Together, these four players boast an impressive tally of almost 2,200 goals.

Regarding his selections, Di Maria commented, "I had the opportunity to play with so many and have that privilege that sometimes if they don't ask me a question like that, I don't start thinking about who I played with. 

"The truth is that it is crazy if I have to put myself together. I could easily put together two all-star teams."

Notably, Di Maria's dream team did not include Cristiano Ronaldo, leaving the Portuguese star on the sidelines. This decision echoes sentiments from other football legends like Ronaldo Nazario, who recently omitted Cristiano Ronaldo from his list of the eight greatest players ever.

At 35, Di Maria continues to impress at Benfica, where he moved in the summer. Enjoying a fruitful season, he has contributed 11 goals and five assists, helping Benfica secure a strong position in the Portuguese top flight.