As the clock ticks down to the 2026 World Cup, Rodrigo De Paul has opened up about an intense, self-imposed training regime he shares with Lionel Messi, revealing the cinematic—and somewhat comedic—effort to push the captain toward one last title.
In a candid interview, the Inter Miami midfielder lifted the lid on the “secret plan” the duo has been following for the past two to three months. While the world watches the usual club fixtures, De Paul and Messi have been quietly putting in extra shifts, determined to arrive in the United States in peak physical condition .
“We talk a lot about the World Cup, about the excitement we have,” De Paul said. “For two or three months now, we’ve been preparing for this with a training plan beyond what we do at the club. We are killing ourselves physically to arrive in the best possible way” .
The 31-year-old, known as the “Motorcito” (Little Engine) for his relentless running, revealed the pair have organized double training sessions alongside their personal trainer, separate from Inter Miami’s regular schedule . This regimen is a calculated gamble by the veteran duo to ensure the midfield engine room runs smoothly in what will likely be Messi’s sixth—and final—World Cup appearance .
The ‘Little Man’ and the Documentary Dream
Beyond the physical grind, De Paul shared a lighter side of their partnership, describing how he acts as the squad’s hypeman to keep the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner motivated.
“I film everything. I want to make it look like a little movie,” De Paul admitted. “He doesn’t like it. He says, ‘No, leave it alone, why are you filming me?’ I tell him: ‘Little man, maybe it works out for us and we make a little documentary. We can make some money’” .
De Paul described their dynamic as a perfect complement to each other. While De Paul experiences emotional highs and lows, he credits Messi with providing stability.
“He is more linear than me,” De Paul explained. “I go up and down a lot, so I have many low moments and he helps me. When I go down, I go down hard. He is linear, he maintains a line. We complement each other well” .
A Nation’s Obsession
With the World Cup less than a month away, De Paul confirmed that the defending champions are consumed by the desire to repeat their 2022 heroics. Despite the pressure of being defending champions—a feat no South American team has achieved since 1962—the squad is embracing the challenge.
“You don’t live without thinking about the World Cup,” De Paul stated. “I see in my teammates a conviction and a hunger for it to keep happening. We won the Copa América and went for the second, we won the Finalissima… The team is super willing to leave it all on the field” .
Argentina is set to base their operations in Kansas City for the group stage, where they will face Algeria, Austria, and Jordan . If De Paul has his way, the footage he is collecting of Messi’s grind will indeed become a highlight reel of a successful title defense.
