Most significant talk I had with Lionel Messi was after losing to Saudi Arabia: Rodrigo De Paul

Argentine World Cup winning midfielder Rodrigo De Paul recently opened up about the chat he had with captain Lionel Messi after the La Albiceleste had inexplicably lost their opening match against Saudi Arabia in the 2022 World Cup.
“The most significant talk I had with Leo (Messi) was after losing to Arabia. They gave us the afternoon off to see the family and I didn’t want to see anyone. Neither did he. They were 5-6 hours in which we told each other everything,” De Paul said in a chat with AFAestudio.
Ultimately that 1-2 loss worked as a wake up call for the Argentinians as they went all the way to win the whole thing after defeating France in the final on penalties.
De Paul has always had this silent reverence for Messi as epitomised an interview in 2020 when he had said that he would go to war for his captain.

Meanwhile, the Argentina national team’s training facility was renamed after Messi in recognition of his World Cup heroics and star-studded career, the country’s football association (AFA) said on Saturday.
“I feel very happy. This tribute is very, very special,” Messi, 35, said after unveiling the plaque bearing his name. “Knowing it will be named Lionel Andres Messi is something very beautiful.”
The Argentine magician scored his 800th career goal in Thursday’s 2-0 win over Panama in a friendly in Buenos Aires – Argentina’s first game in front of their home fans since the World Cup triumph.
He will lead Argentina in a friendly against Curacao on Tuesday before returning to club duty with Paris St Germain.