• Midfielder won Copa America & World Cup
• Often operates as Messi's on-field minder
• Can rub opponents up the wrong way

WHAT HAPPENED?

The Atletico Madrid midfielder is close to eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi and often fills the role of on-field minder for his illustrious fellow countryman. He has accepted that challenge on countless occasions across 70 appearances for his country – becoming a World Cup winner in 2022.

THE BIGGER PICTURE

De Paul has also formed part of two Copa America triumphs, with his combative qualities in the middle of the park allowing more creative talents – such as Messi – to thrive around him. Rivals do, however, consider him to be “limited” and the kind of character that is undeserving of his standing in international football.

WHAT MARDONES SAID

Former Chile international Patricio Mardones has said of De Paul, as reported by TNT Sports, in the wake of seeing Argentina claim a 3-0 World Cup qualifying victory over his nation: “There is a nasty player, Rodrigo De Paul. Watching the match between Argentina and Chile, I would tell him on the pitch 'wow, you're bad'. He is a limited player who works hard. He has very good team-mates who make up for that limitation. I would have told him: ‘You are bad and you play because you are a friend of Messi.' De Paul makes me feel that way, he's a very unpleasant guy.”

WHAT NEXT?

De Paul played the full 90 minutes against Chile at Estadio Monumental, collecting a yellow card along the way. Messi is not alongside him at present as the Inter Miami superstar is still recovering from the ankle injury that he picked up in the 2024 Copa America final.