Ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2022, Angel Di Maria has revealed an inspirational story from the Copa America final. Di Maria recounts the time when Messi fired up the dressing room.

Angel Di Maria and Lionel Messi from Copa America final in 2021. (Courtesy: Reuters)

By India Today Web Desk: Argentine football star Angel Di Maria has revealed details about Lionel Messi’s inspirational speech from the Copa America Final. In a documentary released by Netflix, Di Maria can be heard sharing a story of their trophy-winning campaign in 2021, which was Lionel Messi’s first senior international trophy with his national side.

Di Maria, who scored the lone goal in the match said that Messi’s speech fired them up against Brazil ahead of their final game.

“Before the start of each game, he [Messi] spoke,” Di Maria said in the Netflix documentary ‘Sean Eternos: Campeones de América’. “But his last speech was different, he lost his mind”.

“We already know what Argentina and Brazil mean”.

Messi won the player of the tournament in the Copa America 2021 campaign, raking up goals and assists at will. Under him, Argentina continued their spirited unbeaten run in world football, which has now extended to 35 games – a world record.

“I don’t want to say anything today, just thank you guys,” Messi said in his final’s speech. “Thank you very much for these 45 days.”

“I told you on my birthday (16 days before the final), we have made a beautiful group, and I enjoyed it very much. 45 days where we travelled, ate, were locked up in hotels, 45 days without seeing our families, guys,” Messi said.

“Dibu (Emi Martinez) had a daughter and even he couldn’t see her, he couldn’t hold her in his arms,” he added. “All for what? For this moment. Because we had a goal and are very close to achieving it.”

“And you know what the best of all is? That this depends on us.”

Argentina went on to hit Brazil in the counter in the final game and defended their lead with some dogged defending. The team has injury concerns for the like of Giovanni Lo Celso and Paulo Dybala coming into the World Cup, but is expected to put on a show regardless.