With less than a month to go before the 2026 World Cup kicks off across the United States, Mexico, and Canada, Rodrigo De Paul sat down with journalist Pollo Álvarez for one of the most candid interviews of his career. The Argentina midfielder left nothing on the table.
A World Cup State of Mind
The 31-year-old Inter Miami midfielder revealed that both he and Lionel Messi have been on a dedicated physical preparation plan for months. “For the past two or three months, every single day we’ve had a training program on top of what we do at the club. We’re both working ourselves to the bone to arrive in the best possible shape,” De Paul explained. Minuto Uno
That obsessive focus on readiness is nothing new for De Paul, who has been central to Argentina’s dominant run since Copa América 2021. But what came through most strongly in the interview was just how all-consuming this tournament is for the squad. “I talk to Leo a lot about the World Cup, about the excitement we have,” he added, underscoring the deep bond between the two teammates that extends well beyond the pitch. Minuto Uno
The MLS Decision Vindicated
Perhaps the most striking part of the interview was De Paul’s defence of his move to Inter Miami, and his rejection of the notion that leaving European football was a step backwards. “I set myself the goal of playing a year and a half out from the World Cup. I play every three days and haven’t had any injuries. I arrive in great form — I’d even say better than in other competitions.” MDZ Online
When pressed about missing the Champions League, his answer was blunt: “In the Champions League you play 6 or 7 matches in a year. It’s not that crucial.” For a player whose game thrives on rhythm and physical intensity, the calculation was simple: minutes matter more than prestige. Mundo Albiceleste
In Inter Miami’s last five matches, De Paul has contributed two goals and two assists, numbers that back up his confident self-assessment.
Playing Alongside the Greatest
De Paul also addressed the personal dimension of the Miami move, namely the chance to share a dressing room and a pitch every day with his closest friend in football. “There’s one thing that outweighed all else, and it’s playing alongside the greatest of all time. I wasn’t going to let a situation like that pass me by, especially since he’s a friend of mine. Sharing a pitch with him every day is a dream.” Mundo Albiceleste
His description of watching Messi up close carries the wonder of someone who still can’t quite believe his luck: “He’s got the most beautiful thing a football player looks for — the surprise. Not knowing what he’s going to do or what’s going to happen. Getting surprised all the time in the best way.” Mundo Albiceleste
Racing Club: The Heart Never Left
The interview also ventured into territory closer to home. De Paul admitted he would love to return to Racing Club one day, but was careful not to raise false hopes. “I’m not a lukewarm kind of guy. I have to understand my role, and one word too many can confuse things,” he said. He revealed that club figures including Diego Milito and Sebastián Saja call him regularly to lobby for his return, though he is firm that he won’t put a timeline on it. El Intransigente
The Hunger Is Still There
Asked about Argentina’s chances of defending the title they won in Qatar, De Paul’s reply was electric: “I’m buzzing with excitement. It’s very difficult, but I see in my teammates a conviction and a hunger for it to keep happening.” Minuto Uno
For a man who has already won the Copa América and a World Cup in the blue and white, the fire is clearly still burning. With Messi beside him and a squad brimming with belief, De Paul arrives at 2026 not just as a survivor of past glories, but as a man dead set on adding to them.
Also…
Excerpts from Pollo Álvarez’s interview with Lionel Messi.
Insights on Argentina’s preliminary 55-man World Cup roster.
