The friendship between Rodrigo De Paul and Lionel Messi didn’t begin with glorious goals or titles, but with a very ordinary moment in 2019 — when De Paul accidentally sat in Messi’s seat on the team bus, and then again… on the plane. Instead of awkwardness or the distance of a superstar, there was laughter, a friendly nod, and a decision to sit next to each other like old friends.
From that seemingly small moment, conversations never ended. They talked about football, family, and the invisible pressures that only those involved truly understand. De Paul gradually realized that behind the image of one of the world’s greatest legends was a surprisingly simple, humble, and warm person.
For De Paul, Messi is not just a captain, a leader on the field, but also a source of emotional support, someone who always listens and inspires through his silence and actions. That friendship grew over the years, enduring through failures, erupting in World Cup glory, and becoming a special bond in the Argentina dressing room.
Sometimes, the most beautiful relationships in life begin with a small mistake. And from that one-sided seat years ago, De Paul found not only a great teammate, but also a wonderful friend — an “extraordinary person,” as he proudly describes Lionel Messi.