Lionel Messi and Rodrigo De Paul have been teammates for eight years, with De Paul making his Argentina debut in 2018. The duo has since gone on to win the 2022 FIFA World Cup and the 2021 and 2024 Copa América titles together.
De Paul also followed Messi to Inter Miami, where he has become a core member of the MLS team and helped the club win the MLS championship last season.
As Messi receives a massive farewell tonight in Buenos Aires, there has also been speculation surrounding De Paul’s international future. Another veteran, Nicolás Otamendi, has already confirmed his retirement from the Argentina national team, making Messi’s farewell match an emotional occasion for several members of the squad.
Is Rodrigo De Paul Retiring From Argentina?
As of now, Rodrigo De Paul has not officially confirmed his retirement from the Argentina national team, although his future with La Albiceleste remains highly uncertain.
Speculation surrounding the midfielder grew after Messi announced his own international departure. Lionel Scaloni has also called up De Paul and teammate Giovani Lo Celso exclusively for today’s farewell friendly against Benin.
Their inclusion has fueled reports that Scaloni is beginning a major squad overhaul, raising the possibility that the match could also mark De Paul’s final appearance in an Argentina shirt.
Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images
De Paul’s 2025 move to Inter Miami to play alongside Messi has further added to the speculation, with reports suggesting that Scaloni is increasingly focused on developing younger midfielders for Argentina’s future.
Following the 2026 World Cup, Scaloni indicated that he was looking toward a new generation of players and wanted younger talents to play a bigger role in the national team going forward.
“An important, exciting period begins, a time to trust these young players who are knocking on the door,” he said.
Scaloni also emphasized that age alone would not determine who remains part of the squad, while explaining his approach to integrating younger players.
“Our intention in the upcoming matches is to give young players the opportunity to adapt to our style of play,” Scaloni said. “I always say that age is not a defining factor. They will stay or new players will come in as long as they perform well for their clubs and we believe they deserve to be here.”
For now, however, De Paul has not announced his retirement. While Messi’s farewell could mark the end of another chapter for the 32-year-old midfielder, any decision regarding his future with Argentina remains unconfirmed.
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