There is a telling image that has emerged from Argentina's World Cup camp this summer: Lionel Messi walking out to the training pitch, Rodrigo De Paul at his shoulder, the rest of the squad fanning out behind them in a loose wedge. It looks, one observer has noted, like a street gang protecting its leader. That, in essence, is what manager Lionel Scaloni has constructed — not just a football team, but an entire human ecosystem designed to bring the best from a 39-year-old who may be playing in his final World Cup.

Mate, truco and a friendship that changed everything

The relationship between Messi and De Paul is central to understanding how this Argentina squad functions. The two men did not begin as close friends. De Paul's only prior connection to Messi had been requesting a photograph after a Valencia versus Barcelona fixture, which he cheerfully posted online. Their real bond formed during international duty, sparked by a single act of quiet kindness.

Noticing Messi leave training alone one afternoon, looking withdrawn, De Paul waited around 40 minutes before knocking on his door and asking simply: "Fancy a mate and a game of truco?" That invitation opened a friendship with its own careful rituals. Every morning, mate — the South American herbal tea — is shared in De Paul's room. Messi arrives first, then others filter through in order. Nobody jumps the queue. Nobody disrupts the routine.

De Paul sometimes calls Messi El Pequeño — "the little one" — even though Messi is the eldest in the room. He needles him, treats him like an ordinary person rather than a global monument, because that is precisely what Messi craves. He wants to be Leo, not Messi. De Paul understands when to push and when to step back, and that emotional intelligence has proved as valuable to Argentina as any pass or tackle.

A collective built to his measure

Scaloni's coaching philosophy underpins all of it. Before Argentina's quarter-final against Switzerland, he offered a rare insight into his priorities. "The best moments of all, by far, are celebrations of the group," he said. "I coach for this, not because I like a 4-3-3. I like drinking mate with my friends and players, sharing a barbecue, playing truco, as we have always done."

It could have been Messi himself speaking. The Inter Miami forward has spent months in double training sessions alongside De Paul and has been obsessive about his nutrition. According to a nutritionist close to his camp, his top speed is now approximately 5% higher than it was at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. He walks for roughly 47% of each match and has covered only 631 metres at maximum speed across this tournament — yet he remains the competition's leading scorer.

The statistics frame just how extraordinary this run has been. Only two players in history have recorded ten or more direct goal involvements across two separate World Cups: Messi, with ten in 2022 and ten again in 2026, and Kylian Mbappé. The collective approach has delivered silverware, too. This Argentina squad has won their last three semi-finals and collected four trophies in this cycle — two Copa América titles, a World Cup and a Finalissima.

Relief, pressure and one more run

None of this insulates Messi from the emotional weight of the occasion. After Argentina came from two goals down to reach the quarter-finals, he was seen in tears — raw, genuine distress that had as much to do with relief as celebration. He had missed a penalty, one that briefly threatened to end the tournament, and the subsequent comeback carried a particular charge. Earlier in the competition he had wept after hearing of a complication with his father's health following the opening match.

The emotions, as Guillem Balague has noted in his reporting for the BBC, arrive tangled together for Messi right now: relief, pressure, family, the crowd, team-mates who love him. Somewhere inside all of that, though, there is also genuine happiness — from a footballer who has found, finally and completely, a team built to his measure. England will face that team in the semi-final, and the challenge of separating Messi from the system that sustains him may prove just as difficult as marking him on the pitch.

Frequently asked

How old is Lionel Messi at the 2026 World Cup?
Lionel Messi turned 39 in June 2026, making him one of the oldest outfield players at the tournament. Argentina have structured their squad and style of play specifically to accommodate his age and playing profile.
What is the relationship between Messi and Rodrigo De Paul?
De Paul and Messi have developed a close friendship during their time together with the Argentina national team. Their bond is built on shared daily rituals — including morning mate sessions — and De Paul is widely seen as the team-mate who makes Messi feel most comfortable and at home in the squad.
Who are Argentina playing in the World Cup semi-finals?
Argentina face England in the World Cup semi-final. Scaloni's side have won their last three semi-finals and arrive in the match as one of the form teams in the tournament.