Rodrigo De Paul Reflects on Messi's Retirement from Argentina
Rodrigo De Paul shared his emotional response to Lionel Messi's retirement from international soccer, highlighting their close bond and Messi's impact on Argentina. Despite the retirement, De Paul emphasized Messi's continued elite performance in MLS, where he leads in goals and assists. De Paul's own future with the national team remains uncertain as he approaches the next World Cup cycle.
Lionel Messi's recent announcement regarding his retirement from international soccer has sent shockwaves throughout Argentina, especially following the team's heartbreaking defeat in the 2026 World Cup final. One of Messi's closest confidants, Rodrigo De Paul, who currently plays alongside him at Inter Miami, has opened up about his feelings regarding this significant decision.
De Paul, who has been part of the core group under coach Lionel Scaloni, developed a strong bond with Messi, alongside teammates Leandro Paredes and Giovani Lo Celso. This relationship has influenced De Paul's career trajectory, leading him to join Inter Miami in July 2025 despite having competitive offers to stay in Europe. Speaking to MLS media ahead of Inter Miami's match against Atlanta United, De Paul reflected on Messi's retirement, stating, "It was very emotional. For us Argentines, we lived with so much excitement having him out on the pitch; it gave us immense pride to see the Argentina jersey all over the world, with him always wearing the number 10 on his back. I think he did so much for the country."
Processing his emotions, De Paul expressed a sense of melancholy but also gratitude for having experienced Messi's journey with the national team. He noted, "May he be very happy, and let’s keep enjoying him because there’s still time left," emphasizing that Messi continues to perform at an elite level for Inter Miami. Currently, Messi leads Major League Soccer in both goals (18) and assists (10), demonstrating that his productivity remains high despite his retirement from international play.
De Paul himself is under contract with Inter Miami until December 2029, although his long-term future with the club is closely tied to Messi's. While he has not publicly addressed his future with the national team, De Paul, now 32, would be 36 during the 2030 World Cup cycle, making his participation uncertain. Shortly after Messi's farewell statement on Instagram, De Paul shared a heartfelt tribute, saying, "Seeing you walk out with the 10 and the captain’s armband in front of us made us feel protected, knowing that whoever we faced, we had someone up front who would give everything for us."
De Paul's journey intertwined with Messi's legacy
Remarkably, De Paul's entire professional trophy collection has been achieved alongside Messi, spanning both their international duties and their recent club campaign in South Florida. Before joining Inter Miami, De Paul played for several high-profile clubs in Argentina and Europe, including Racing Club, Valencia, Udinese, and Atletico Madrid, but he did not win any silverware during his time in Europe.
His breakthrough came at the 2021 Copa America, where he played a crucial role in helping Argentina secure the title, marking Messi's first major senior trophy with the national team. This victory initiated a golden period for Argentina, which included the 2022 Finalissima, the 2022 World Cup, and the 2024 Copa America, along with a silver medal at the 2026 World Cup following their final loss to Spain.
De Paul's move to Inter Miami in 2025 allowed him to train alongside Messi daily in preparation for the 2026 World Cup. In this time, he claimed the 2025 MLS Cup, marking his first major club trophy and bringing his total career haul to five major titles, all won alongside Messi. As both players continue to be significant figures in their respective leagues, questions about their clubs' title ambitions loom large, especially as Inter Miami aims to extend their winning streak against Atlanta United.
