Messi Delivers His Explosive Take on De Paul's Stunning Inter Miami Debut

Lionel Messi expressed glowing admiration for his fresh Inter Miami colleague Rodrigo De Paul after the midfielder's inaugural appearance at Chase Stadium.

De Paul began his journey in the pink jersey by contributing to Inter Miami's thrilling triumph in their Leagues Cup opening match. The Herons overcame Liga MX opponents Atlas 2–1 through a last-minute goal from Marcelo Weigandt, assisted by Messi.

Though his transfer from Atlético Madrid was finalized just days earlier, De Paul earned a starting position alongside Sergio Busquets in Wednesday evening's encounter. The midfielder featured for the entire 90 minutes of the Leagues Cup battle, recording the highest pass completion rate in the game while generating three scoring opportunities.

Following Javier Mascherano's squad's successful three-point haul, Messi addressed reporters and shared his thoughts on De Paul's Miami arrival and overall display.

"Our relationship spans many years with numerous matches played side by side," Messi commented. "His presence elevates the team's standard. Despite minimal training time, he covered tremendous distance, particularly impressive given the challenging heat and humidity conditions."

De Paul and Messi have been teammates representing the Argentina national squad throughout recent years. The duo contributed to La Albiceleste's victories in Copa América 2021 and 2024, plus the 2022 FIFA World Cup triumph.

However, the pair had never been clubmates until this moment. De Paul moved to Inter Miami via loan from Atlético Madrid, with the MLS franchise reportedly committed to purchasing the 31-year-old for $17.6 million subsequently. This loan arrangement, financed through Targeted Allocation Money, enables the Herons to avoid classifying the Argentine as a Designated Player this campaign.

Acquiring a midfielder with De Paul's caliber positions Inter Miami among the leading contenders for the 2025 Leagues Cup title. The Herons previously claimed this tournament in 2023, with Messi eager to guide his squad to another championship.

"Our competitive readiness never wavers," Messi stated. "We demonstrated strength during the Concacaf Champions Cup run this year, coming close to reaching the final. We're contending for premier league positions, performed respectably at the Club World Cup, and now we've secured an exceptional talent like Rodrigo."

Inter Miami return to competition on Saturday, Aug. 2, facing Necaxa at Chase Stadium.