Rodrigo De Paul’s Close Bond With Messi Has Become Argentina’s Greatest Strength
Lionel Messi may be the heart of Argentina’s World Cup campaign, but one of the biggest reasons behind his happiness and success is the friendship he shares with Rodrigo De Paul.
Their relationship has evolved into one of the strongest partnerships in international football. Within Argentina’s squad, De Paul has become the teammate who understands Messi better than anyone else, creating an environment where the legendary forward feels comfortable, relaxed, and completely himself.
Interestingly, the friendship did not begin at Barcelona or in youth football. Before becoming teammates for Argentina, De Paul’s only interaction with Messi was asking for a photograph after a Valencia vs Barcelona match, which he proudly shared on social media.
Everything changed during an international training camp. De Paul noticed Messi quietly leaving training and spending time alone. Instead of ignoring the situation, he waited patiently before knocking on Messi’s door with a simple invitation.
“Want to have some mate and play a game of truco?”
That casual conversation marked the beginning of a friendship that now plays a major role in Argentina’s dressing room.
The Daily Ritual That Keeps Messi Comfortable
Since then, every morning starts the same way. Messi joins De Paul in his room to drink mate before the rest of the squad gradually arrives.
The routine has become almost sacred. Nobody interrupts it or arrives out of order. Even if players wake up early, they wait until it is time to join.
De Paul even jokingly calls Messi “El Pequeño” (“The Little One”), despite Messi being the oldest member of the group.
Unlike many people who treat Messi as football royalty, De Paul speaks to him like any close friend. He jokes with him, teases him, and also knows exactly when to give him space.
That balance allows Messi to simply be “Leo” instead of carrying the constant weight of being “Lionel Messi.”
Before every match, the symbolism continues. Messi leads the players onto the pitch while De Paul walks beside him, with the rest of the squad following closely behind—almost like a protective group surrounding their captain.
For many Argentine players, Messi was their childhood hero long before he became their teammate. Today, they proudly wear the same Adidas Messi boots, and for his birthday, the squad celebrated by wearing shirts featuring old photos of themselves with Messi throughout their national-team journeys.
Lionel Scaloni Built the Perfect Team Around Messi
Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni deserves enormous credit for creating the ideal football environment for Messi to thrive.
Rather than forcing the veteran forward into a rigid tactical system, Scaloni allows him complete freedom to influence matches wherever he believes he can make the biggest difference.
If Messi drifts toward the right wing, the team adjusts.
If he moves into central areas, the rest of the players immediately reorganize around him.
Scaloni has made it clear that Messi does not need tactical instructions. Instead, the squad responds naturally to his movements, with Rodrigo De Paul often covering the spaces Messi leaves behind.
The results speak for themselves.
Argentina have reached multiple major tournament semi-finals and collected four major international trophies during Scaloni’s reign, including:
- FIFA World Cup
- Two Copa América titles
- Finalissima
Beyond tactics, Scaloni transformed the atmosphere inside the national team after taking charge in 2018. He moved away from relying solely on established stars, introduced fresh talent, and built a squad based on unity rather than individual status.
His philosophy is simple:
Protect Messi, trust the team, and let collective football create individual brilliance.
Messi’s Fitness and Preparation Are Paying Off Although Messi is now 39 years old, his physical condition remains remarkable.
According to experts close to his preparation team, months of specialized fitness work, nutritional planning, and additional training sessions alongside Rodrigo De Paul have improved his explosiveness.
His maximum sprint speed is reportedly around five percent higher than it was during the Qatar World Cup.
Rather than constantly chasing the ball, Messi carefully manages his energy throughout matches. Nearly half of every game is spent walking, allowing him to conserve strength before producing decisive moments when Argentina need him most.
The strategy continues to deliver extraordinary numbers.
Messi has once again become one of the tournament’s most productive attacking players.
Only two footballers in World Cup history have recorded double-digit direct goal involvements across two separate tournaments:
- Lionel Messi
- Kylian Mbappé
It is another reminder that intelligence, positioning, and decision-making often matter more than constant running.
Argentina’s Dressing Room Has Turned Messi Into More Than Just a Captain
The current Argentina squad celebrates Messi in ways rarely seen in football history.
After every victory, the players gather together to sing “La Cuarta Estrella,” an anthem dedicated to winning another World Cup with Messi leading the way.
The song celebrates Argentina’s dream of adding a fourth star to the national shirt while also honoring Diego Maradona’s legacy and Messi’s extraordinary contribution to Argentine football.
For supporters across the country, football has always represented something greater than sport.
Generations have viewed legends like Maradona and Messi as symbols of national identity, resilience, and pride.
Every international triumph feels personal.
Every victory becomes a celebration shared by an entire nation.
Emotion Drives Argentina’s World Cup Journey
One of the tournament’s most emotional moments came after Argentina completed a dramatic comeback from two goals down to reach the World Cup quarter-finals.
Messi was overwhelmed with emotion.
His tears reflected far more than football.
They represented relief after missing a crucial penalty earlier in the tournament, concern for his family following health issues involving his father, and the immense responsibility he feels toward teammates desperate to help him lift another World Cup trophy.
Instead of leaving him to process those emotions alone, the Argentina players immediately surrounded their captain.
As midfielder Leandro Paredes later explained, they embraced Messi not only to comfort him but also to remind him that he would never carry the burden by himself.
That unity defines this Argentina team.
caloni’s Leadership Has Restored Argentina’s Identity
Before facing Switzerland in the quarter-finals, Scaloni summarized exactly what makes this squad different.
For him, football is about relationships as much as tactics.
Sharing mate.
Enjoying traditional barbecues.
Playing cards together.
Celebrating victories as one family.
Those values mirror Messi’s own personality.
After years of pressure and expectation, he has rediscovered the joy of representing Argentina inside a dressing room built on friendship, trust, and collective purpose.
That connection has allowed Messi to enjoy football once again while giving Argentina its strongest chance yet of defending the World Cup.
Conclusion
Argentina’s success is not simply the story of Lionel Messi’s brilliance. It is the result of a carefully built culture where friendship, tactical flexibility, and complete trust allow the greatest player of his generation to perform without carrying the entire burden alone.
Rodrigo De Paul’s unwavering support, Lionel Scaloni’s intelligent management, and a united squad have created the perfect environment for Messi to chase another World Cup title.
Whether this proves to be his final tournament or not, one thing is certain: Argentina has built a team designed to help Lionel Messi write yet another unforgettable chapter in football history.